Oscar Nominated Derby-Bound Despite 'Plan C'

An interesting name popped up among the undercard stakes nominations for Kentucky Derby day, but owner Ken Ramsey says not to get the wrong impression.

Horseshoe Casino Cincinnati Spiral Stakes (gr. III) winner Oscar Nominated, a son of Ramsey stallion Kitten's Joy who would be making his dirt debut in the May 7 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), has also been nominated to the $300,000 American Turf Stakes (gr. IIT) for 3-year-olds going 1 1/16 miles on the Churchill turf the first Saturday in May.

"That's not even 'Plan B,' that's 'Plan C,'" Ramsey said. "We're going to run this horse in the Kentucky Derby; I'm not going to miss an opportunity. I think he finishes in the top half of the field."

Oscar Nominated, bred in Kentucky by Mrs. Jerry Amerman out of the Theatrical (IRE) mare Devine Actress, was claimed for $75,000 by Ken and Sarah Ramsey last fall and sent to the barn of Mike Maker. After winning the Black Gold Overnight Stakes on the lawn at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, and with all of his previous starts on turf, he was not on Maker's radar as a potential Derby contender, and was not nominated to the race by his connections.

Following the Spiral win in his seventh start and synthetic surface debut, Ramsey found a silent partner to contribute to the $200,000 late nomination fee due at time of entry that will allow Oscar Nominated his chance at the roses ... or at least a petal or two. The American Turf subscription was a $300 back-up plan.

LAMARRA: Oscar Nominated Takes Spiral for Ramseys

Never one to miss his chance at a Derby run, Ramsey and his wife Sarah have started six contenders. Their best finish came with his first entrant, Ten Cents A Shine, who ran eighth in 2003. The others were Dean's Kitten (14th, 2010), Derby Kitten (13th, 2011), Charming Kitten (9th, 2013), We Miss Artie   (10th, 2014), and Vicar's in Trouble (19th, 2014). Last year they were headed to the race with Louisiana Derby (gr. II) winner International Star, but the horse was scratched the morning of the Derby due to foot issues.

Asked what kind of scenario would cause him to run Oscar Nominated in the American Turf instead of the Kentucky Derby, Ramsey responded, "I can't think of any, to be honest with you."

Ramsey added of the nomination, "It's actually not my doing; I wasn't aware he was nominated. But I do have standard operating instructions for my trainers to nominate early to any race where they think the horse might fit. Having said that, you're probably asking, 'You dummy, why didn't you nominate to the Kentucky Derby?' Well, we nominated eight to the Kentucky Derby and he was not one of them ... we asked Mike if there was anyone we were missing a few days before the deadline where we would have had to pay $6,000, and he said, 'Nope, don't think so, don't think we're going to make it this year.'

"Well, he brought the horse back to Kentucky and I don't know if the cool weather woke him up or what, but about three or four days past the $6,000 nomination deadline he said, 'I've got good news for you, Oscar Nominated has woken up, you might want to bet on him in the Spiral!' And we hadn't even nominated him to the Kentucky Derby. When he won the Spiral I wasn't shocked, but I was surprised a little."

Dean's Kitten won the Spiral in 2010 when it was known as the Lane's End Stakes; We Miss Artie won the 2014 edition. Oscar Nominated ranks 13th on the Kentucky Derby Leaderboard with 50 points.

"Any time I can shine a little light on Kitten's Joy, I've got my flashlight out," Ramsey said.