Precious Kitten (USA)
January 20, 2003 – May 11, 2016
Catienus (USA) x Kitten's First (USA), by Lear Fan (USA)
Family 2-d
January 20, 2003 – May 11, 2016
Catienus (USA) x Kitten's First (USA), by Lear Fan (USA)
Family 2-d
As a half sister to 2004 American champion turf male Kitten's Joy, Precious Kitten was a valuable property before she ever set hoof on a race track. She soon proved that she didn't need to rely on her older brother for a reputation. The winner of three Grade 1 events on turf at 4 and 5, she retired with all the credentials anyone could ask in a young broodmare. Her three foals of racing age include 2015 Coolmore Lexington Stakes (USA-G3) winner Divining Rod.
Race record
25 starts, 8 wins, 10 seconds, 1 third, US$1,912,543
2006:
2007:
2008:
Honors
Eclipse Award finalist, American champion turf female (2007)
As an individual
A racy-looking dark bay or brown mare with a nice shoulder, a deep girth, rather long pasterns and sickled hocks, Precious Kitten did her best running on firm going. She developed a quarter crack as a 5-year-old that kept her out of action for more than two months following her victory in the 2008 Gamely Handicap (USA-G1). She did not stay as well as did her half-brother Kitten's Joy and was essentially a miler, though dangerous at up to 9 furlongs if she got a favorable trip.
As a producer
Precious Kitten produced five named foals. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Precious Kitten raced as a homebred for Ken and Sarah Ramsey through her 4-year-old season, after which she was sold to Roy and Gretchen Jackson for an undisclosed sum. She carried the silks of the Jacksons' Lael Stable during her 5-year-old campaign. She was trained by Bobby Frankel. She was humanely destroyed in 2016 after fracturing a hock.
Pedigree notes
Precious Kitten is inbred 4x5 to Northern Dancer and 5x5 to Nashua. She is a full sister to Last Kitten, dam of listed stakes winner Prissy (by Unbridled's Song) and stakes winner Leadem in Ken (by Sky Mesa). She is a half sister to 2004 American champion turf male Kitten's Joy (by El Prado) 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 2014 Monmouth Oaks (USA-G3) winner Cassatt. Precious Kitten is also a half brother to Striking Image (by Red Ransom), dam of multiple stakes winner Self Made Man (by Catienus).
Kitten's First, the dam of Precious Kitten, 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 credit
Photo taken by Jessica Morgan in 2009 at Mill Ridge Farm. Used by permission.
Last updated: February 1, 2021
Race record
25 starts, 8 wins, 10 seconds, 1 third, US$1,912,543
2006:
- Won Mrs. Revere Stakes (USA-G2, 8.5FT, Churchill Downs)
- Won Martha Washington Breeders' Cup Stakes (USA-L, 8.5FT, Laurel)
- 2nd Valley View Stakes (USA-G3, 8.5FA, Keeneland)
- 2nd Heavenly Cause Handicap (USA, Churchill Downs)
- 3rd Regret Stakes (USA-G3, 9FT, Churchill Downs)
2007:
- Won John C. Mabee Handicap (USA-G1, 9FT, Del Mar)
- Won Matriarch Stakes (USA-G1, 8FT, Hollywood)
- Won Palomar Handicap (USA-G2, 8.5FT, Del Mar)
- Won Gallorette Handicap (USA-G3, 8.5FT, Pimlico)
- 2nd Jenny Wiley Stakes (USA-G2, 8.5FA, Keeneland)
- 2nd CashCall Invitational Mile (USA-G2, 8FT, Hollywood)
- 2nd Honey Fox Handicap (USA-G3, 8FT, Gulfstream Park)
2008:
- Won Gamely Breeders' Cup Stakes (USA-G1, 9FT, Hollywood)
- 2nd Matriarch Stakes (USA-G1, 8FT, Hollywood)
- 2nd First Lady Stakes (USA-G1, 8FT, Keeneland)
Honors
Eclipse Award finalist, American champion turf female (2007)
As an individual
A racy-looking dark bay or brown mare with a nice shoulder, a deep girth, rather long pasterns and sickled hocks, Precious Kitten did her best running on firm going. She developed a quarter crack as a 5-year-old that kept her out of action for more than two months following her victory in the 2008 Gamely Handicap (USA-G1). She did not stay as well as did her half-brother Kitten's Joy and was essentially a miler, though dangerous at up to 9 furlongs if she got a favorable trip.
As a producer
Precious Kitten produced five named foals. Her important foals are as follow:
- Divining Rod (2012, by Tapit) won the 2015 Coolmore Lexington Stakes (USA-G3). He entered stud in 2018 at Country Life Farm in Maryland.
- Jehozacat (2015, by Tapit) won the 2020 Endeavour Stakes (USA-G3).
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Precious Kitten raced as a homebred for Ken and Sarah Ramsey through her 4-year-old season, after which she was sold to Roy and Gretchen Jackson for an undisclosed sum. She carried the silks of the Jacksons' Lael Stable during her 5-year-old campaign. She was trained by Bobby Frankel. She was humanely destroyed in 2016 after fracturing a hock.
Pedigree notes
Precious Kitten is inbred 4x5 to Northern Dancer and 5x5 to Nashua. She is a full sister to Last Kitten, dam of listed stakes winner Prissy (by Unbridled's Song) and stakes winner Leadem in Ken (by Sky Mesa). She is a half sister to 2004 American champion turf male Kitten's Joy (by El Prado) 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 2014 Monmouth Oaks (USA-G3) winner Cassatt. Precious Kitten is also a half brother to Striking Image (by Red Ransom), dam of multiple stakes winner Self Made Man (by Catienus).
Kitten's First, the dam of Precious Kitten, 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
- Because her dam, Kitten's First, suffered a pelvic injury as a juvenile that restricted the size of her birth canal, Precious Kitten was born by Caesarian section.
Photo credit
Photo taken by Jessica Morgan in 2009 at Mill Ridge Farm. Used by permission.
Last updated: February 1, 2021