Kitten's Joy (USA)
May 8, 2001 – July 15, 2022
El Prado (IRE) x Kitten's First (USA), by Lear Fan (USA)
Family 2-d
May 8, 2001 – July 15, 2022
El Prado (IRE) x Kitten's First (USA), by Lear Fan (USA)
Family 2-d
A horse who showed brilliant ability as a turf runner, Kitten's Joy was nonetheless considered a longshot to make a top sire in Kentucky due to a long-standing bias against staying turf horses. Owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey supported him strongly with their own mares, however, and were well rewarded as Kitten's Joy rose to the top of the American general sire list in 2013, a position he also occupied in 2018. To the surprise of many, the horse also became an American champion juvenile sire, leading that list in 2011.
Race record
14 starts, 9 wins, 4 seconds, 0 thirds, US$2,075,791
2004:
2005:
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion turf male (2004)
Assessments
Rated at 122 pounds on the 2004 World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings for his performance in the Joe Hirsch Invitational Turf Classic, 7 pounds below overall highweight Ghostzapper and 5 pounds below the top turf performer, 4-year-old Doyen. Among 3-year-old turf males, Kitten's Joy was ranked 4 pounds below 2004 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (FR-G1) winner Bago.
As an individual
A strong-bodied chestnut horse, Kitten's Joy stood 16.1-1/2 hands according to his stallion advertisements. He had a well laid back shoulder and powerful hindquarters with a strong hind leg. He was also known for his intelligent, sensible demeanor. As a racehorse, he had a good turn of foot but was better on firm turf than on softer going. He was retired as a 4-year-old due to knee trouble.
As a stallion
According to The Blood-Horse, Kitten's Joy was the top North American sire of turf runners in 2013-2018. He has shown a distinct affinity for mares whose pedigrees return Roberto or his sire Hail to Reason and has also done well with mares from the Storm Cat line. His progeny generally have good bones and sound racing temperaments and improve as they mature, but Kitten's Joy did not otherwise stamp his foals, who come in a wide range of shapes and sizes.
Sire rankings
Per Arion Pedigrees (www.arion.co.nz):
Per The Blood-Horse:
Notable progeny
Admiral Kitten (USA), Big Blue Kitten (USA), Bobby's Kitten (USA), Divisidero (USA), Gendarme (USA), Hawkbill (USA), Henley's Joy (USA), Kameko (USA), Kitten's Dumplings (USA), Littlebitofjoy (USA), Oscar Performance (USA), Real Solution (USA), Roaring Lion (USA), Sadler's Joy (USA), Stephanie's Kitten (USA), Tripoli (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Channel Cat (USA), Dia de Otoño (CHI), Far Bridge (USA), Lukka (CHI)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Kitten's Joy raced as a homebred for Ken and Sarah Ramsey. He was trained by Dale Romans. He entered stud in Kentucky in 2006 at Ramsey Farm and stood there through the 2016 Northern Hemisphere season. While Ken Ramsey indicated at that point that he was strongly considering transferring the stallion to Europe, Kitten's Joy ended up moving to Hill 'n' Dale Farms, which relocated its operations to Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa in 2020. He died in his paddock on July 15, 2022, the victim of an apparent heart attack.
Pedigree notes
Kitten's Joy is inbred 4x5 to Northern Dancer and Tom Fool, 5x4 to Hail to Reason and 5x5 to Hail to Reason's sire, Turn-to. He is a half brother to multiple Grade 1 winner Precious Kitten (by Catienus), dam of 2015 Coolmore Lexington Stakes (USA-G3) winner Divining Rod (by Tapit) and 2020 Endeavour Stakes (USA-G3) winner Jehozacat (by Tapit), and to multiple listed stakes winner Justenuffheart (by Broad Brush), dam of 2006 American champion 2-year-old filly Dreaming of Anna (by Rahy) and multiple Grade 2 winners Lewis Michael (by Rahy) and Justenuffhumor (by Distorted Humor) and second dam of Grade 3 winners Cassatt and Dreamologist. Kitten's Joy is also a half brother to Striking Image (by Red Ransom), dam of multiple stakes winner Self Made Man (by Catienus), and to Last Kitten (by Catienus), dam of listed stakes winner Prissy (by Unbridled's Song) and stakes winner Leadem in Ken (by Sky Mesa).
Kitten's First, the dam of Kitten's Joy, is a winning half sister to United Nations Handicap (USA-G1) winner Down the Aisle (by Runaway Groom). She is out of That's My Hon (by L'Enjoleur), a half sister to 1977 Mother Goose Stakes (USA-G1) winner Road Princess (by Gallant Man; dam of multiple Grade 2 winner Reign Road, by Sovereign Dancer) and 1973 Breeders' Futurity (USA-G3) winner Provante (by Prove It). The next dam in the tail-female line, the Prince John mare One Lane, is out of 1950 Molly Pitcher Handicap winner Danger Ahead (by Head Play), also the third dam of the great Spectacular Bid.
Fun facts
Photo credits
Top: Photo portrait taken by Jessica Morgan at Ramsey Farm in 2010. Used by permission.
Bottom: Candid photo of Kitten's Joy enjoying a spa treatment taken by Jessica Morgan at Ramsey Farm in 2010. Used by permission.
Race record
14 starts, 9 wins, 4 seconds, 0 thirds, US$2,075,791
2004:
- Won Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational Stakes (USA-G1, 12FT, Belmont)
- Won Secretariat Stakes (USA-G1, 10FT, Arlington Park)
- Won Virginia Derby (USA-G3, 10FT, Colonial Downs)
- Won Crown Royal American Turf Stakes (USA-G3, 8.5FT, Churchill Downs)
- Won Tropical Park Derby (USA-G3, 9FT, Calder)
- Won Palm Beach Stakes (USA-G3, 8.5FT, Gulfstream Park)
- 2nd Breeders' Cup Turf (USA-G3, 12FT, Lone Star)
- 2nd Jefferson Cup Stakes (USA-G3, 9FT, Churchill Downs)
2005:
- Won Firecracker Breeders' Cup Handicap (USA-G2, 8FT, Churchill Downs)
- 2nd Arlington Million Stakes (USA-G1, 10FT, Arlington Park)
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion turf male (2004)
Assessments
Rated at 122 pounds on the 2004 World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings for his performance in the Joe Hirsch Invitational Turf Classic, 7 pounds below overall highweight Ghostzapper and 5 pounds below the top turf performer, 4-year-old Doyen. Among 3-year-old turf males, Kitten's Joy was ranked 4 pounds below 2004 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (FR-G1) winner Bago.
As an individual
A strong-bodied chestnut horse, Kitten's Joy stood 16.1-1/2 hands according to his stallion advertisements. He had a well laid back shoulder and powerful hindquarters with a strong hind leg. He was also known for his intelligent, sensible demeanor. As a racehorse, he had a good turn of foot but was better on firm turf than on softer going. He was retired as a 4-year-old due to knee trouble.
As a stallion
According to The Blood-Horse, Kitten's Joy was the top North American sire of turf runners in 2013-2018. He has shown a distinct affinity for mares whose pedigrees return Roberto or his sire Hail to Reason and has also done well with mares from the Storm Cat line. His progeny generally have good bones and sound racing temperaments and improve as they mature, but Kitten's Joy did not otherwise stamp his foals, who come in a wide range of shapes and sizes.
Sire rankings
Per Arion Pedigrees (www.arion.co.nz):
- 8th on the English general sire list in 2018.
- 6th on the Irish general sire list in 2018.
- Led the North American general sire list in 2013; 4th in 2014 and 2015; 5th in 2017; 7th in 2016; 8th in 2011 ; 9th in 2018; 10th in 2019.
- Led the North American juvenile sire list in 2011.
Per The Blood-Horse:
- Led the American general sire list in 2013 and 2018; 3rd in 2014, 2015, and 2017; 5th in 2016; 10th in 2019.
- Led the American juvenile sire list in 2011.
Notable progeny
Admiral Kitten (USA), Big Blue Kitten (USA), Bobby's Kitten (USA), Divisidero (USA), Gendarme (USA), Hawkbill (USA), Henley's Joy (USA), Kameko (USA), Kitten's Dumplings (USA), Littlebitofjoy (USA), Oscar Performance (USA), Real Solution (USA), Roaring Lion (USA), Sadler's Joy (USA), Stephanie's Kitten (USA), Tripoli (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Channel Cat (USA), Dia de Otoño (CHI), Far Bridge (USA), Lukka (CHI)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Kitten's Joy raced as a homebred for Ken and Sarah Ramsey. He was trained by Dale Romans. He entered stud in Kentucky in 2006 at Ramsey Farm and stood there through the 2016 Northern Hemisphere season. While Ken Ramsey indicated at that point that he was strongly considering transferring the stallion to Europe, Kitten's Joy ended up moving to Hill 'n' Dale Farms, which relocated its operations to Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa in 2020. He died in his paddock on July 15, 2022, the victim of an apparent heart attack.
Pedigree notes
Kitten's Joy is inbred 4x5 to Northern Dancer and Tom Fool, 5x4 to Hail to Reason and 5x5 to Hail to Reason's sire, Turn-to. He is a half brother to multiple Grade 1 winner Precious Kitten (by Catienus), dam of 2015 Coolmore Lexington Stakes (USA-G3) winner Divining Rod (by Tapit) and 2020 Endeavour Stakes (USA-G3) winner Jehozacat (by Tapit), and to multiple listed stakes winner Justenuffheart (by Broad Brush), dam of 2006 American champion 2-year-old filly Dreaming of Anna (by Rahy) and multiple Grade 2 winners Lewis Michael (by Rahy) and Justenuffhumor (by Distorted Humor) and second dam of Grade 3 winners Cassatt and Dreamologist. Kitten's Joy is also a half brother to Striking Image (by Red Ransom), dam of multiple stakes winner Self Made Man (by Catienus), and to Last Kitten (by Catienus), dam of listed stakes winner Prissy (by Unbridled's Song) and stakes winner Leadem in Ken (by Sky Mesa).
Kitten's First, the dam of Kitten's Joy, is a winning half sister to United Nations Handicap (USA-G1) winner Down the Aisle (by Runaway Groom). She is out of That's My Hon (by L'Enjoleur), a half sister to 1977 Mother Goose Stakes (USA-G1) winner Road Princess (by Gallant Man; dam of multiple Grade 2 winner Reign Road, by Sovereign Dancer) and 1973 Breeders' Futurity (USA-G3) winner Provante (by Prove It). The next dam in the tail-female line, the Prince John mare One Lane, is out of 1950 Molly Pitcher Handicap winner Danger Ahead (by Head Play), also the third dam of the great Spectacular Bid.
Fun facts
- The Kitten's Joy Stakes is a Grade 3 turf race for 3-year-olds. Inaugurated in 2013, it is carded over 8.5 furlongs at Gulfstream Park as of 2022.
- Because his dam, Kitten's First, suffered a pelvic injury as a juvenile that restricted the size of her birth canal, Kitten's Joy and his subsequent siblings were born by Caesarian section.
- Kitten's Joy had his own personal spa at Ramsey Farm, which included an underwater treadmill.
Photo credits
Top: Photo portrait taken by Jessica Morgan at Ramsey Farm in 2010. Used by permission.
Bottom: Candid photo of Kitten's Joy enjoying a spa treatment taken by Jessica Morgan at Ramsey Farm in 2010. Used by permission.
Last updated: August 4, 2024
Last updated: August 4, 2024