NICK'S PICKS, THURSDAY, JUNE 7TH

WRITTEN FOR THE KITTEN
Eight years ago at Colonial Downs, a chestnut ridden by Edgar Prado drew off from favored Artie Schiller after taking the lead shortly coming out of the far turn.  Kitten's Joy had put trainer Dale Romans and owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey, who watched the race from the grandstand, into the Virginia Derby winner's circle. Ramsey and Romans have kept coming back and so has the impact their winner that day.  

Later that year Kitten's Joy would win the Secretariat Stakes at Arlington, the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Belmont and just miss in the Breeder's Cup Turf.  As a stallion, Kitten's Joy is producing winner's like Stephanie's Kitten who won the Edgewood on Kentucky Oaks day at Churchill Downs.  On Thursday evening, Ramsey introduces at least pair of Kitten's Joy's offspring with a coupled entry in each of the two year old races.  It may be as if he never left. 

On Sunday's Nick's Picks, I left Forest Boyce off Nick's Picks among the list of several talented jockeys that ride at Colonial Downs....and she won three races on the card.  At the moment Boyce shares the leading rider of meet (wins) with Richard Monterrey who snared the daily double on Sunday.  (I had mentioned Richard.)   Boyce had more wins on Sunday's card than I did.  Despite the slight, Boyce at least illustrated my note about the depth of Colonial's jockey colony.  Overlook her talent at your own peril.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"If you want a kitten, start out asking for a horse."


HORSES AROUND
With BODEMEISTER taking a break, the leading Virginia-bred interest this weekend at Belmont Park is REDEEMED going a mile and a half on the dirt in the Brooklyn Handicap.  The champion Virginia-bred 3-year old colt in 2011 won his last start by 9+ lengths at Belmont in the $81,000 Milesius that was pulled off the turf.  Wayne and Susie Chatfield-Taylor at Morgan’s Ford Farm in Front Royal, VA bred Redeemed.