Kitten's Joy takes derby

The new year at Calder started pretty much the same as the old. Jockey Jerry Bailey won the 2003 Tropical Park Derby on New Year's Day for owner Ken and Sarah Ramsey aboard Nothing to Lose, and on Thursday Bailey did it for the Ramseys again, guiding Kitten's Joy to an easy 4 1/2-length victory over Broadway View in the Grade 3 event.

Bailey put Kitten's Joy in perfect position outside rivals and just off the pace, and the pair ran down the tiring pacesetter Sovereign Honor before drawing off to an easy win. Broadway View prompted the pace and wore down Sovereign Honor by a neck to finish second in a field of 11 3-year-olds.

Kitten's Joy, a son of El Prado, returned $9.20 after covering 1 1/8 miles in 1:46.95 over a firm course. Trained by Dale Romans, Kitten's Joy has now won all three of his starts on grass.

"It will be up to Mr. Ramsey," Romans said, "but right now I think we'll stay on turf with him, with the goal the turf stakes at Churchill Downs on Derby Day" - the Crown Royal Turf.

* Bobbie Use had to win an eight-way shake for one of the four remaining openings in the starting lineup just to get into Thursday's Tropical Park Oaks, but she made the most of the opportunity and rallied to a neck victory over Cold Wynnter in the filly counterpart to the derby.

Well placed under jockey Eibar Coa from the outset of the 1 1/16-mile Oaks, Bobbie Use joined the leader nearing the stretch and forged to the lead inside the eighth pole, then held gamely to turn back a final bid from Cold Wynnter. Cold Wynnter lacked room near the hedge approaching the quarter pole but finished willingly once clear to just miss. Last Waltz set the pace and held on to finish third.

Bobbie Use, a New York-bred daughter of Not for Love trained by Richard Dutrow Jr., paid $8.40 as the favorite in a full field of 12 3-year-old fillies. Her final time was 1:42.09.