Stephanie’s Kitten should get her course
ELMONT, N.Y. – Rain that hit the New York area this week couldn’t have come at a better time as far as trainer Chad Brown is concerned.
First, it came just after Lady Eli – a filly who prefers firm turf – won Sunday’s $200,000 Wonder Again Stakes to remain undefeated in five starts. After the rain came, however, it lingered long enough to likely have the Belmont inner turf course in “good” condition for Friday’s Grade 2, $300,000 New York Stakes, where Brown will run Stephanie’s Kitten.
“Clearly, she prefers some cut in the ground,” Brown said.
It also has become clear that Stephanie’s Kitten prefers races at longer distances. A multiple graded stakes winner at a mile in her youth, Stephanie’s Kitten has run at 1 1/8 miles or longer in her last five starts. Included in those five starts was a victory in the Grade 1 Flower Bowl Invitational at 1 1/4 miles and seconds in the Diana, Beverly D., and Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf.
“We got her to switch off a bit and got her back, maybe a little too far back at times,” Brown said.
Stephanie’s Kitten has made only one start this year, a 1 1/2-length victory over stablemate Ball Dancing in the Grade 3 Hillsborough at Tampa Bay Downs. Stephanie’s Kitten was entered against males in the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic on Kentucky Derby Day but was scratched as a result of a misunderstanding between Brown and owner Ken Ramsey that has since been resolved.
To ensure that there will be pace in the New York Stakes, Brown and Ramsey will run the speedy Kitten’s Queen. She won her last two races, both for trainer Mike Maker.
The New York field includes Riposte, the winner of this race last year who has been off form in three starts this year. Trainer Bill Mott adds blinkers to her equipment. Trainer Christophe Clement sends out the uncoupled entry of Beauty Parlor and Maximova.
The New York goes as race 9 on a 10-race card that begins at 12:50 p.m. Eastern. There are four other stakes on the program: the Grade 2 True North, $250,000 Belmont Gold Cup, $250,000 Tremont, and $150,000 Jersey Girl.
KEY CONTENDERS
Stephanie’s Kitten (Last 3 Beyers: 98-100-98)
◗ Comes off a 90-day layoff following a win in the Hillsborough over next-out winner Ball Dancing.
◗ Has been working extremely well in company with Ball Dancing the last three weeks at Belmont.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 1A Stephanie’s Kitten. Trainer Chad Brown is 9-1-2-2 with a $1.00 ROI over the past five years in turf routes of 10 furlongs or longer following a layoff of 80 days or more (5-0-1-1 as favorites). Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Over the last three years, Brown is 11 for 37 with a $2.58 return on investment in graded stakes with horses coming off a layoff of 60 to 180 days. He is 4 for 7 in that span at Belmont.
Beauty Parlor (Beyers: 82-91)
◗ Made a good-looking North American debut, winning the Grade 3 Orchid Stakes at Gulfstream Park on March 28. Regressed when finishing last in the Grade 2 Sheepshead Bay here May 2.
“She was a bit anxious,” Clement said. “It was probably a mistake running her back too quick after that race and shipping in from Florida. She’s really trained well since her last race. She may run better covered up.”
Eastern Belle (Beyers: 88-78)
◗ A true marathon-distance horse, this Britain-bred filly closed a ton of ground when second in the Grade 2 Keertana Stakes at Churchill downs at 1 3/8 miles.
◗ Shows a win and a second in two starts at 1 1/4 miles in Europe.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 5 Eastern Belle. Trainer Graham Motion is 55-8-6-6 with a $5.15 ROI over the past five years with fillies and mares in turf graded stakes of 10 furlongs or longer. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 7 Riposte. Trainer Bill Mott is 10-1-0-0 with a $0.84 ROI over the past five years while adding blinkers in graded stakes. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan