Paradise Creek better spot for Kitten's Cat

ELMONT, N.Y. – A cutback in distance, a drop in class, and a potential sweet setup could give Kitten’s Cat a slight edge in Saturday’s $100,000 Paradise Creek Stakes for 3-year-olds at Belmont Park.

Kitten’s Cat shortens up from 1 1/16 miles to seven furlongs and drops out of a ninth-place finish in the Grade 2 American Turf at Churchill Downs on the Kentucky Derby card. Kitten’s Cat appeared to be in good striking position approaching the top of the stretch before faltering down the lane under jockey Luis Saez.

“Luis said the turf course was really, really saturated, and he was moving good until the top of the lane when the ground started breaking out from underneath him,” trainer Joe Sharp said.

Further, Sharp felt Kitten’s Cat ran well when third in last fall’s Grade 3 Pilgrim Stakes on a yielding Belmont turf course.

“Every turf course is different when it comes to handling water,” Sharp said.

Kitten’s Cat should get a good pace to sit behind with Derek’s Smile breaking from the rail and Big Handsome breaking from the outside in what figures to be a seven-horse field after the scratch of main-track-only entrant Line Judge.

Mongo Nation has won his last two races, most recently a first-level allowance March 23 at Gulfstream Park. He was scratched from an allowance April 30 here in the paddock because he didn’t have the proper shoes to race on turf.

“Naturally, I’d like to have had the race under my belt,” said David Fawkes, who trains Mongo Nation for radio personality Mike Francesa’s JEH Stable. “He had a really nice work this week. He should be fit enough.”

Big Handsome, trained by Tony Dutrow, is 2 for 2 on turf. Derek’s Smile won the Texas Glitter Stakes at Gulfstream before finishing eighth in the Grade 3 Turf Sprint at Churchill, where he broke last, spotting the field about two lengths.

Paradise Creek, Race 8

KEY CONTENDERS

Kitten’s Cat, by Kitten’s Joy

Last 3 Beyers: 64-79-85

◗ Is winless in five graded-stakes tries but is 2 for 2 in listed stakes such as the Paradise Creek.

◗ Won the Juvenile Turf Sprint over the downhill course at Santa Anita last fall and the Kitten’s Joy going a mile at Gulfstream.

◗ Gets a rider switch to John Velazquez, who is 1 for 6 for Sharp.

Big Handsome, by Street Boss

Last 3 Beyers: 94-84-71

◗ Has found a new lease on life on turf, showing good speed in both of his open-length victories.

“I have to have as much confidence as one would want going into this seven-eighths race,” Dutrow said. “The horse is doing fantastic.”

Mongo Nation, by Speightstown

Last 3 Beyers: 81-79-58

◗ Showed the ability to sit off the pace and close in a solid allowance win at Gulfstream in March, a style Fawkes hopes Saez employs Saturday.

“I would like to have him sit off it a little bit,” Fawkes said. “You’re too vulnerable on the lead.”