A special blog post to wish the best of luck and safe trips to the Kittens in the Breeders' Cup. Also, because of Breeders' Cup, I will not be able to do previews for maiden races for the next few days. I have indicated the entries for November 6 and 7 below.

November 6

Juvenile Fillies Turf

Lisa's Kitten (Kitten's Joy - Chianti Red by Woodman) is our only entrant for Friday. She will break from post 12 in the mile Juvenile Fillies Turf with Julien Leparoux aboard. She's 12-1 on the morning-line. Post time is 4:08 PM ET. Lisa's Kitten has run 5 times. She broke her maiden in her 4th start, at a mile and a sixteenth on the Belmont turf. In her next start, she ran in the M2 Technology La Senorita Stakes at a mile on the turf at Retama on October 24. She won that one despite having to check hard, when she started her move (Watch the Replay). Lisa's Kitten earlier faced stakes competition in the P. G. Johnson Stakes at a mile and a sixteenth on the Saratoga turf on September 3. She finished 6th in that race. Tapitsfly and Smart Seattle, who are also in the Juvenile Fillies Turf, finished 1-2 in the P. G. Johnson.

 
Lisa's Kitten - photo by Anne M. Eberhardt

November 7

Juvenile Turf

Kera's Kitten (Kitten's Joy - Mrs. K. by Dixieland Band) and Becky's Kitten (Kitten's Joy - Caterette by Cozzene) meet in the mile Juvenile Turf, breaking side-by-side, in posts 9 and 10. They are both 12-1 on the morning-line.

Kera's Kitten is a perfect 2 for 2, with both starts on the turf. He broke his maiden at Kentucky Downs on September 21, and then won the Skyy El Joven Stakes at a mile at Retama on October 24 (Watch the Replay). He has gone straight to the lead in both of his starts. Rajiv Maragh will be aboard.

Kera's Kitten - photo by Anne M. Eberhardt

Becky's Kitten has 5 starts to his credit. His maiden score came in his fourth start, his first turf effort, at a mile and a sixteenth on the Saratoga turf on August 27 (Watch the Replay). He then ran in the Summer Stakes (Can-III) on September 19 on the Woodbine turf, finishing 2nd behind Bridgetown, who is also in the Juvenile Turf. Becky's Kitten has been training at Santa Anita since the Summer Stakes, recording 5 works on the turf. Most recently, he went 5 furlongs in 1:00.00 on November 1. Julien Leparoux will be riding Becky's Kitten.

Becky's Kitten - photo by Mathea Kelley

Vision Stakes winner Dean's Kitten (Kitten's Joy - Summer Theatre by Ide) is also entered in the Juvenile Turf, but he's first on the AE list. He has run 6 times, breaking his maiden in his third start at a mile and a sixteenth on the Saratoga turf on August 5. He ran 4th in the With Anticipation (gr. III) on the Saratoga turf on September 4 and 5th in the Pilgrim Stakes on the Belmont dirt on October 4, before winning the Vision Stakes on October 25 on the Belmont turf. If he gets in, Ramon Dominguez will ride. Dean's Kitten is also 12-1 on the morning-line. The Juvenile Turf has a post time of 1:45 PM ET.

Juvenile

William's Kitten (Kitten's Joy - Blush by Menifee) breaks from post 12 in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, and doesn't get much respect from the linesmaker, having been assigned a 30-1 morning-line. Ramon Dominguez rides. He broke his maiden at a mile on the Ellis turf on July 16, and then finished 3rd in an Allowance race on the River Downs turf on August 15. His next start was in the 1 1/16 mile Sunday Silence Stakes at Louisiana Downs on September 19, which was taken off of the turf and run on the main track. He cruised to victory in that one (Watch the Replay). Most recently, he ran in the Grey Stakes (Can-III) on the Polytrack at Woodbine, finishing 5th. He's had one work on the Santa Anita Pro-ride, going 4 furlongs in :46.40 on November 2. It was the second fastest work at the distance, only Sprint favorite Zensational worked faster. This is particularly interesting since William's Kitten came from way back to take the Sunday Silence. Post time is 3:49 PM ET for the Juvenile.

William's Kitten - photo by Rick Samuels

The Babe Overtakes the Kittens and Zori

The turf was firm, and the only scratches were the AEs Sheer Beauty (Mizzen Mast - Vertical Ascent by Lear Fan) and Blazing Sasha (Langfuhr - Blazing Kadie by Our Native). Karen Sue's Kitten (Kitten's Joy - Citiscape by Citidancer) was the early favorite, but Veil of Tears (Distorted Humor - Safe Haven by A. P. Indy) was the top pick when they went into the gate. Zori's Eye (Rock Hard Ten - Congratulations by Mercedes Won) was 5-1 and Native Kitten (Kitten's Joy - Native Belle by Forestry) was 16-1. Veil of Tears was on edge before the race. Karen Sue's Kitten looked calm and collected. Hayleys Quest (Came Home - Proud Fillie (FR) by Linamix (FR)) was off kind of awkwardly. Veil of Tears went right to the front. Zori's Eye and Native Kitten were chasing. Karen Sue's Kitten was near the back. Zori's Eye made a move and got her head in front of Veil of Tears, but that filly fought back. She couldn't hold off the closing rush of Laura Babe (City Zip - She's Something by Affirmed), who swept by for the victory. Native Kitten took third in a photo. Zori's Eye weakened to 5th. Karen Sue's Kitten started to make a move late, had to steady, and ended up 7th Watch the Replay.

Result: November 5, 2009
Churchill Downs Race 5
Maiden Special Weight

View Race Details

Other Result

Stakes-placed Kratisto (colt; Afleet Alex - Torch by Risen Star) finished 4th in a mile Allowance/Optional Claiming race at Laurel. Watch the Replay.

November 6 Entries

Muhaaseb (colt; Ghostzapper - Ticket to Houston by Houston) faces 5 in race 2 at Aqueduct, a 6 furlong Maiden Special Weight. Post time is 12:58 PM ET. Muhaaseb has run once, finishing 2nd in a 5.5 furlong race at Belmont on September 19. He's worked a couple times since then, including 4 furlongs in :50.47 at Belmont on November 3.

Quechee (colt; Afleet Alex - Tarika by Cozzene) makes his first start in race 3 at Aqueduct, scheduled for 1 1/16 miles on the turf. Post time is 1:26 PM ET. Quechee has been working at Fair Hill, including 5 furlongs in 1:02.00 on October 29.

Syo Defenceman (colt; Afleet Alex - Southern Sandra by Dixie Brass) goes in race 4 at Calder, a mile Maiden Special Weight. Post time is 1:46 PM ET. Syo Defenceman has run once, finishing 6th at 5.5 furlongs at Calder on October 12 after a slow start. Since then, he's worked 3 furlongs in :36.20 on October 26 at Calder.

Ghost Girl (filly; Ghostzapper - Bayou Breeze by A. P. Indy) debuts in race 2 at Hawthorne. Post time is 3:25 PM ET for this 6 furlong Maiden Special Weight. Ghost Girl has been working at Arlington and Hawthorne, including 3 furlongs in :38.40 at Hawthorne on November 4.

November 7 Entries

Stakes-placed Quick Ride (colt; Afleet Alex - Baby Lets Cruise by Tale of the Cat) and Buddy's Saint (colt; Saint Liam - Tuzia by Blushing John) meet in the mile Nahua Stakes (gr. III) at Aqueduct, post time 2:00 PM ET. Quick Ride broke his maiden in his 2nd start, at 6 furlongs on a muddy Belmont track on September 12. He then finished 3rd in the mile and sixteenth Dover Stakes at Delaware Park on October 10. Since then, he's been working at Saratoga, including 4 furlongs in :47.50 on October 31. Buddy's Saint finished first in his only start, on September 26 at Belmont, but was disqualified and placed second. Buddy's Saint has worked several times at Belmont since then, including 4 furlongs in :49.49 on November 3.

Cravin Caden (colt; Saint Liam - Lacie Girl by Editor's Note) debuts in race 2 at Aqueduct, a mile Maiden Special Weight. Post time is 12:58 PM ET. Cravin Caden has been working at Saratoga and Belmont, including 5 furlongs in 1:02.05 at Belmont on October 31.

New Worker

Ghost Shopper (colt; Ghostzapper - Shop Till You Drop by Thunder Gulch) worked 3 furlongs in :38.20 at Keeneland. He is out of stakes winner Shop Till You Drop, who was a debut winner at 2. Shop Till You Drop is a half-sister to 3 winners, including stakes winner In Rome and grade III stakes-placed Clays Awesome.

Returning Workers

November 5

Speedy Solution (colt; Afleet Alex - Perfect Solution by Seeking the Gold) worked 4 furlongs in :51.00 at Churchill Downs.

At Fair Hill, Wicked Charm (filly; Ghostzapper - Belva by Theatrical (IRE)) went 4 furlongs from the gate in :49.60.

Bear's Hard Ten (colt; Rock Hard Ten - Playforme by Gone West) worked at Woodbine, 5 furlongs in 1:01.00.

Hard Way Ten (filly; Rock Hard Ten - Youcan'ttakeme by He's Tops) worked at Hollywood, 3 furlongs in :39.60.

At Payson Park, Tenplus (colt; Rock Hard Ten - One Beautiful Lady by Broad Brush) went 4 furlongs in :49.60.

At Monmouth, Saint Amore (filly; Saint Liam - Amaretta by Woodman) went 4 furlongs in :51.00.

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