Sniper Kitten by a length in Mystic Lake Derby

Sniper Kitten, bearing the mark of owner-breeder Ken Ramsey in more than one way, won his stakes debut Saturday night at Canterbury Park, capturing the $200,000 Mystic Lake Derby, the richest race of the Canterbury meeting, by one length over longshot Nobrag Justfact.

Ramsey and his wife, Sarah, bred and own Sniper Kitten, who is by the Ramsey stallion Kitten’s Joy and out of the mare Cat on a Tin Roof, who is by another Ramsey stallion, Catienus.

Mr. Ramsey also has been known to place a wager here and there, and someone hammered Sniper Kitten, a 10-1 shot on the morning line, down to 7-2.

That was smart money, too. Sniper Kitten only debuted in February, and after a turf route maiden loss at Gulfstream he won a similar race there on March 17 by a nose. Sniper Kitten went on to a convincing first-level turf allowance win at Keeneland but given the relative strength of the competition in the Mystic Lake Derby, 7-2 was a pretty short number.

But Sniper Kitten, who had posted a long string of workouts since his Keeneland win for trainer Mike Maker, was right on point Saturday night. Under Tyler Gaffalione he raced at the front of midpack as Mr. Jagermeister cut out splits of 23.26 and 46.60 seconds while hounded by a host of pursuers. Nobrag Justfact, a 42-1 shot, was the first to attack and took the lead in upper stretch, but by then Gaffalione had swung Sniper Kitten into action, and he pushed past Nobrag Justfact and won going away. Captivating Moon, the 5-2 favorite, came from 10th but was spun wide into the homestretch and finished third, a half-length behind Nobrag Justfact and three-quarters in front of Curlin’s Honor.

Sniper Kitten was timed in 1:34.66 for one mile on firm turf and paid $9.40.