Home Run Kitten Wins Sloppy American Stakes

Tarabilla Farms' grade III winner Home Run Kitten snapped an eight-race winless streak in an off-the-turf version of the $100,000 American Stakes May 6 at Santa Anita Park. 

The 5-year-old son of Kitten's Joy trained by David Hofmans, who came into the sloppy mile race of 14 consecutive turf starts, appeared to relish the muddy ground late, as he passed Little Curlin in the final strides to win by a half-length at odds of 14-1.

The surface change puts the grade III status of this year's edition of the American under review, but if it is retained, it would be Home Run Kitten's second victory at that level. His first came in the 2014 Eddie D Stakes (gr. IIIT). In his first two starts of 2016, he finished ninth in the Clocker's Corner Stakes and seventh in the Joe Hernandez Stakes. His only other start over dirt came in a fifth-place finish in the 2014 Robert B. Lewis Stakes (gr. III).

"He overcame my training," Hofmans said. "I was lost with him. His last two or three races were so uncharacteristic and I was totally lost. I had no reason whatsoever. I even gave him time off, gave him a few months off, (and) turned him out because we campaigned him so hard, and he came back super and stronger but just ran like hell."

Racing in fifth during the backstretch run in the scratch-shortened field of six, as front runner Si Sage set fractions of :23.08, :46.20, and 1:10.35 through six furlongs, Home Run Kitten improved in the final turn under jockey Joe Talamo, but was still three lengths back entering the stretch. Little Curlin looked like sure winner, in command and in the clear at the top of the stretch but could not hold the closer off late.

"This horse has so much confidence," Talamo said. "He works so well in the mornings and Dave always keeps him fresh, so I just tried to be a good pilot today."

Home Run Kitten hit the wire in 1:35.30 over a track rated "wet fast" and paid $30.40, $10.20, and $3.60 across the board. Little Curlin brought $6.80 and $3.40. Twentytwentyvision, the 6-5 favorite, closed from last to finish third and delivered $2.40 to show.

"We had decided to run anyway (even when the race came off the turf), because Joe has been after me for years now to run him on the dirt," Hofmans said. "We thought we'd give him a shot in here even if it came off the (turf)."

Si Sage tired to finish fourth, followed by Southern Freedom and Ohio, to complete the order of finish. Cape Wolfe, Producer, and Patentar were scratched.

Home Run Kitten was bred in Kentucky by Ken and Sarah Ramsey, out of the Grand Slam mare Grand Slam Girl, and now has a 5-2-5 record from 18 starts, with $402,645 in earnings.