Ramsey-bred Kitten's Roar takes Ramsey Farm Stakes

FRANKLIN, Ky. – Thursday’s $350,000 Ramsey Farm Stakes on closing day at Kentucky Downs unfolded like a good portion of the meet at Kentucky Downs did – with a horse owned by Ken and Sarah Ramsey of Ramsey Farm and by their sire Kitten’s Joy, winning for them and trainer Mike Maker.

Victorious was Kitten’s Roar, a Ramsey homebred who picked up a the richest payday of her career after a spring and summer in which she came close in losing efforts behind some of the top turf fillies and mares in the country in graded company.

Unlike in some of those losing races, when Kitten's Roar fell well off the pace early and was left with too much ground to make up, this time she immediately put herself in the race. Breaking alertly under Jose Ortiz, she sat a favorable stalking trip in fourth, as her uncoupled stablemate Daring Duchess went to the front and set a soft pace under token pressure.

Kitten’s Roar always seemed to be travelling well, and after tipping out to go after the leaders at the top of the stretch, quickly advanced to open up a clear lead and maintained a 2 1/4-length advantage to the wire over late-rallying runner-up Tricky Escape.

“The drop in class did the trick,” said Maker, referring to running in an ungraded race after a fifth-place finish in the Grade 1 Beverly D. at Arlington Park on Aug. 12.

Kitten's Roar, a 5-year-old mare, completed about 1 5/16 miles under Jose Ortiz in 2:17.19 on a drying-out course labeled good by track management. She paid $3.40.

Slow-breaking Queen Blossom ran third, ahead of Daring Duchess, another Ramsey-owned entrant.

Thursday’s race, formerly the Ladies Marathon, was renamed this year with Ken and Sarah Ramsey sponsoring the race in their farm’s name. And that left smiling faces all around in the winner’s circle, with Ken Ramsey, son Jeff, and grandson Nolan all sharing in the trophy presentation.

It marked the second straight year the Ramseys and Maker won this race following a victory from Al’s Gal in the 2016 running when it was run as the Ladies Marathon.

Maker said after the race that Kitten’s Roar likely will follow a schedule similar to Al’s Gal last year. Al's Gal went on to win the Grade 1 E. P. Taylor at Woodbine in her subsequent start before a ninth-place finish in the Breeder’s Cup Filly and Mare Turf.

Maker and the Ramseys finished the meet as the leading trainer and owners, respectively, while Julien Leparoux was the meet’s top jockey.