Big Blue Kitten Takes Back Crown in United Nations

Big Blue Kitten earned his second United Nations victory on Sunday. (Photos by EQUI-PHOTO)
After skipping the $500,000 United Nations Stakes at Monmouth Park last year, Big Blue Kitten made up for lost time on Sunday when winning the race for the second time in three years.
With stablemate Shining Copper setting the pace up front, Big Blue Kitten settled about seven lengths off the leader near the back of the field with just two horses beat in the early stages of the race. Big Blue Kitten's regular jockey Joe Bravo wasn’t in a hurry with the 7-year-old as Shining Copper opened up eight lengths on the field down the backstretch, but as they came into the turn and the field closed on his stablemate Big Blue Kitten went for it.
He was guided wide so he could get a clear spot to run and there was nothing to stop him as he used just a fraction of the stretch to take over from his stablemate and then pulled away to win by 1 1/2 lengths in a time of 2:11.4 for the 1 3/8 miles. Shining Copper was overtaken late by Slumber and Twilight Eclipse but still held on to take home a sizeable paycheck in fourth.
“Him and Slumber [another Chad Brown trainee] have been training outstandingly so we were excited to come down and run them and both of them ran terrific,” said Chad Brown, Big Blue Kitten’s trainer. “[Joe Bravo] knows this horse very well. This is Joe’s horse, he knows him the best.”
BIG BLUE KITTEN WINNING THE UNITED NATIONS

Today’s result was a reversal of the Knob Creek Manhattan Stakes run on June 6 where Slumber took home the win while Big Blue Kitten was 2 ¾ lengths back in second.
The big surprise of the race was reigning United Nations winner Main Sequence. Previously undefeated in his U.S. starts, he sat in his trademark nearly last spot throughout the running of the race. But when jockey Rajiv Maragh asked him to use the kick he had shown in previous runnings on American turf, he didn’t appear to fire and just finished seventh.
"We had the perfect trip. The pace was there and we sat just where we wanted to, but it just wasn’t our day. Graham (Motion) is a great trainer and he will know what’s next for him," Maragh said.
Big Blue Kitten had a bumpy season in 2014, only winning one of his five starts and it was announced last fall that he would retire to Ramsey Farm at the end of 2015 to stand next to his sire, Kitten’s Joy. However, a change of plans has worked out in breeder-owners Ken and Sarah Ramseys’ favor as he already has two wins in three starts this year with more than $500,000 in 2015 earnings. Overall, this is Big Blue Kitten’s 13th win in 27 starts and his third Grade 1 victory.
"We’ll look at the Bowling Green (Aug. 1) or the Arlington Million (Aug. 15) are the most likely next starts for him.  This horse is just so consistent.  What a great runner," Brown said about Big Blue Kitten's next start.
Big Blue Kitten is the third horse since 2005 to win the United Nations twice, joining English Channel (2006-2007) and Presious Passion (2008-2009) and gave trainer Chad Brown his third United Nations victory. Brown had a good weekend with Grade 1 winners, also taking home the Belmont Oaks yesterday with Lady Eli.
Going off at odds of 4.40-to-1, Big Blue Kitten paid $10.80 to win. To see an Equibase chart, click here.