Pennine Ridge distance a plus for Camelot Kitten
ELMONT, N.Y. – Camelot Kitten is a full brother to Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint winner Bobby’s Kitten, but his connections acknowledge that the two are not very much alike.
Whereas Bobby’s Kitten was more successful running short, trainer Chad Brown believes the farther the better for Camelot Kitten.
“This is a leggier, wiry-made horse that seems like he’ll appreciate more ground,” Brown said.
Camelot Kitten will get his chance to run 1 1/8 miles on the turf in Saturday’s Grade 3 Pennine Ridge Stakes at Belmont Park. The Pennine Ridge is a stepping-stone to the Grade 1, $1.25 million Belmont Derby going 1 1/4 miles on July 9.
Camelot Kitten enters the Pennine Ridge off a gutsy head victory in the Grade 2 American Turf on the undercard of the Kentucky Derby. In that race, Camelot Kitten wore blinkers for the first time and made a terrific move along the hedge under Irad Ortiz Jr.
Brown said he had thought about blinkers for Camelot Kitten for a long time and decided to put them on after he ran second in his 3-year-old debut at Keeneland in April.
“He had his moments in the fall where he was quirky,” Brown said. “After his first race at Keeneland, he ran well, but he wasn’t giving it his all. We tried him in the morning with blinkers, and it sharpened him up a little bit and focused him.”
Brown also entered Converge and Call Provision in the Pennine Ridge. Converge won the Grade 3 Palm Beach at Gulfstream in February and owns a win from two starts at Belmont as a 2-year-old. Call Provision overcame a slow start in his debut to win against New York-breds at Aqueduct.
Brown’s trio will have to beat Highland Sky, the winner of the Woodhaven Stakes at Aqueduct on April 23.
KEY CONTENDERS
Highland Sky, by Sky Mesa
Last 3 Beyers: 87-84-78
◗ He has come from far back in most of his races, but mostly because it takes a few strides to gather himself.
“I think if the pace is a little slower, he’s going to be a little more forwardly placed,” said Robin Smullen, assistant to trainer Barclay Tagg. “You leave him alone, basically, and let him run his race. He doesn’t have to come from far out of it, but it is usually that way. It’s just because that’s his style.”
Camelot Kitten, by Kitten’s Joy
Last 3 Beyers: 93-83-60
◗ His only bad race came over yielding turf last fall in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf.
◗ Comes off his best race to date and his first with blinkers in the Grade 2 American Turf.
Azar, by Scat Daddy
Last 3 Beyers: 82-81-81
◗ Ran a strong second when on the lead in Grade 3 Spiral going this distance over Turfway’s synthetic surface.
◗ In a race seemingly void of speed, he could be on or close to the lead under John Velazquez.
Dressed in Hermes, by Hat Trick
Last 3 Beyers: 80-83-80
◗ Was far back and wide when finishing seventh last out in the American Turf, beaten 6 3/4 lengths.
◗ He is a two-time stakes winner going a mile at Santa Anita.