SPORTS

Big Blue Kitten takes Breeders' Cup qualifier

Jonathan Lintner
@JonathanLintner
Ken Ramsey scored a lopsided victory during Churchill Downs’ spring meet.

Good luck getting any sort of price this October at Keeneland's Breeders' Cup on a horse named Big Blue Kitten. The wagering public will likely love this one owned by Churchill Downs' all-time leading owners, Ken and Sarah Ramsey.

A 7-year-old by the couple's famous stud, Kitten's Joy, proved he still has it Sunday in Monmouth Park's $500,000 United Nations, kicking late under jockey Joe Bravo to earn a "Win and You're In" berth to the Breeders' Cup Turf.

Big Blue Kitten paid $10.80 to win and went 1 3/8 miles in 2:11.82, clinching what was a mild upset. His trainer, Chad Brown, also saddled runner-up Slumber, and Twilight Eclipse ran third. Champion Main Sequence didn't hit the board, though, suffering his first defeat in the United States after bumped at the start.

Big Blue Kitten has now won 13 of his 27 starts. In two races over Keeneland's grass, he has a win and a second-place effort to two-time Horse of the Year Wise Dan. The ridgling finished eighth in the 2013 Breeders' Cup Turf, his only start in the championship series.

Others so far qualified for the Turf, won last year by Main Sequence, include Criterion (Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner), Ordak Dan (Gran Premio 25 de Mayo), Barolo (Gran Premio Brasil) and Lovely Day (Takarazuka Kinen).