Ramsey Hopes for Shining Star

He is an Eclipse Award-winning owner and breeder. He owns and stands one of the most prepotent Thoroughbred stallions in the world. He has been leading owner at nearly every major race meet in the United States. And yet, there is a gaping hole in the resume of Kentucky native Ken Ramsey. He has yet to win—or even come close to winning—the one race he desperately wants to complete his portfolio.

Ramsey, who races with his wife, Sarah, spends hours a day calculating all aspects of his horse empire. He scans past performances looking for horses to claim; studies condition books to place his horses where they can win; looks over pedigrees to decide which mares he accepts to the court of his Kitten's Joy  ; and reads winning percentages of trainers. Ramsey has left “hands-on” in the dust; it’s a miracle he takes time off to eat.

Last week he celebrated yet another meet title at Keeneland—the Ramseys have now won more of those than any other owner in history—relaying to a reporter his successful bid to defeat the Darley empire to claim the Keeneland crown. With that achievement safely tucked away, Ramsey turned his attention west an hour and a half drive from his Ramsey Farm near Nicholasville, Ky., to Churchill Downs, where the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) has eluded him thus far. He is happily surprised to be heading to the race with Louisiana Derby (gr. II) winner International Star.

The Ramseys have not gotten the desired result thus far with their Derby starters. Ten Cents A Shine ran eighth in 2003; Dean's Kitten 14^th in 2010; Derby Kitten 13^th a year later; Charming Kitten ninth in 2013; and We Miss Artie finished 10^th and Vicar's In Trouble 20^th last year.

“They used to call me ‘Canvas Back’ on the Navy boxing team,” Ramsey said with his trademark quick laugh. “I never throw in the towel; always stagger back. I did not think I’d be in the Derby this year. I started out with only five Derby prospects that I’d bought at the sales with the pedigree I thought could get there. Task Force Glory was our best bet, I thought. International Star has been a surprise.”

Trainer Mike Maker placed the son of Fusaichi Pegasus    on the turf last year, and the $85,000 yearling purchase ran a good second in the With Anticipation Stakes (gr. IIT) before winning the Grey Stakes (gr. III) over Woodbine’s Polytrack. After watching him run unplaced in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (gr. IT), Ramsey called an audible.

“I told Mike not to get enamored with the turf, because that’s not why I bought him,” Ramsey said.

International Star swept the Fair Grounds stakes for Derby hopefuls, winning the LeComte (gr. III) and Risen Star (gr. II) stakes before the Louisiana Derby. And Ramsey is now returning the favor, making his Derby hopeful as comfortable as possible at Maker’s headquarters at the Trackside Training Center a few miles from Churchill Downs.

He comes into the Derby with a 5-2-0 record in nine starts and a bankroll of $1,010,979.

“Mike said International Star was missing the cold water bath that he had set up at Fair Grounds,” Ramsey said. “He stands in cold water up to his knees and there’s a salt solution that helps pull out any inflammation. So I just bought a new one for $90,000 and installed it at Trackside trying to keep him healthy and  happy.”

Ramsey is also a handicapper of some renown, and he sees an opening for his runner, who prefers stalking from mid-pack.

“You have good horses with speed that have been running off,” Ramsey said of the Derby field. “But if they all try and do the same thing together, they’re going to get frustrated and need a drink of water, and that horse with the big R on his silks has a chance to run by them. I know I have my work cut out for me, but we’ve got an experience edge on them with nine races in the bank.”

Whether or not International Star delivers the roses for Ramsey this time, ol’ Canvas Back will return next year, he hopes, as he has two dozen 2-year-old prospects he has either bought or bred to get the Derby distance.

“I’m loaded for the Derby next year,” Ramsey said. “But I hope I don’t have to wait that long. Nothing wrong with winning two Derbys in a row, is there?”