Stephanie's Kitten Claims Filly & Mare Turf

Four years after claiming her first Breeders' Cup victory, Stephanie's Kitten returned to a Breeders' Cup winner's circle again Oct. 31 after a courageous rally to win the $2 million Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (gr. IT) at Keeneland.

The four-year gap between Breeders' Cup victories is the longest in the event's history—not that Stephanie's Kitten has ever gone away. When she split rivals near mid-stretch to rally to a clear victory over multiple group I winner Legatissimo, Stephanie's Kitten claimed the fifth grade I victory of her career and 10th stakes win overall in five seasons of racing.

Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s homebred daughter of their sire Kitten's Joy   also won the 2011 Juvenile Fillies Turf (gr. IIT) at Churchill Downs and finished second to Dayatthespa in last year’s Filly & Mare Turf at Santa Anita Park.

Trained by Chad Brown and guided to victory by Irad Ortiz Jr., Stephanie’s Kitten completed the 1 3/16-mile test in 1:56.22 on good turf.

"She's tough, I'll tell you," said Brown, noting that the Ramseys considered retiring her at the end of last season. "They were rewarded today. She won here today, just six miles from where she was born and raised, and I'm happy for them."

Early on in the race that started coming out of the far turn, Secret Gesture led the field of 10 through a half-mile in :49.26, while pressed by Photo Call. Those two led the way into the stretch, but Stephanie's Kitten—who raced in last through the first six furlongs—surged into the stretch, where she split the early leaders. 

"I broke from the outside, so I was trying to save some ground," Ortiz said. "I found a hole to go through around the quarter pole and then when I asked her, she just took off."

Classic winner Legatissimo, who entered off two straight group I wins against older horses in Ireland and England, rallied wider but posed no real threat to the winner. It was another 2 1/4 lengths back to third-place Queen's Jewel, who edged Sentiero Italia by a neck for third.

Out of the unraced Catienus mare Unfold the Rose, Stephanie's Kitten improved her career earnings to $4,292,904 with a record of 11-5-5 from 25 career starts. She has won grade I races in four of her five years on the track.

Stephanie’s Kitten returned $17.60, $5.40, and $3.60 across the board. Legatissimo paid $3 to place and $2.60 to show, while Queen’s Jewel returned $6.80.