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Contact: Michael Adolphson
(847) 385-7558
Barn Notes: Friday, June 06, 2014
In Today's Notes:
- Bold Kitten on Target for Lincoln Heritage
- Cabana Blows Out Bullet for Saturday's Purple Violet
- Stakes-bound Kepi Impressive in Thursday Score
BOLD KITTEN AND TIPSY TURN IN IMPRESSIVE WORKS FOR MAKER/RAMSEY
Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey's well regarded Bold Kitten completed another impressive work on Thursday, June 5 – her first serious work since impressively taking an allowance on May 22 at Arlington International Racecourse – and is on target for her next assignment, according to trainer Mike Maker.
"We're going to run her in the Lincoln Heritage (on June 21)," reported the conditioner. "She's a very talented horse. She had a couple bad trips at Gulfstream Park and Keeneland with excuses and ran really well the other day (at Arlington)."
The winner of last year's Purple Violet Stakes on the main track at Arlington, Bold Kitten will be returning to turf in the 1 1/16-miles event for the first time since those troubled aforementioned trips. Expected to be once again united with Florent Geroux, she could offer a serious challenge to expected race favorite and multiple graded stakes-winning Illinois champion La Tia.
On Thursday, the daughter of champion sire Kitten's Joy worked four furlongs on :48.40 – good for third-best of 24 works at that distance – and identical to her two previous works before her 3¾-length victory in May. "I was on her and she felt fabulous," reported Jessica Howell, locally based assistant to Maker. "She worked like the quality horse that she is. I feel like she's moved forward (off her previous race). For a filly like her, to relax is to move forward – and that's what she's done. She's settled really well into her surroundings here, which is absolutely key."
Quite serendipitously, Friday morning saw another chestnut daughter of Kitten's Joy from the Maker/Ramsey connection flash some speed, as Tipsy – unraced since finishing second to La Tia in the 2013 Lincoln Heritage – burned through five furlongs in a sharp :59. The work was the best of 18. An upcoming race would be her first for Maker after being transferred from Wayne Catalano late 2013. Last year, the leggy mare impressively won an allowance before her lone stakes-placing.
"I didn't know her before – my husband used to gallop her last year – but she definitely is talented and has trained well," Howell said. "She's also definitely improved – like Bold Kitten –
since she arrived here and is another one who has been getting her bearings in the surroundings. I'm excited for her to (race). The way she worked, it feels like this was her last or second-to-last work before a race."
Speaking of La Tia, the talented mare also worked Friday morning, going a leisurely four furlongs in :48.80 in her first move since annexing the Grade III Arlington Matron impressively. The multiple Illinois Champion is on target for a defense of the Lincoln Heritage for trainer Armando De La Cerda and owner Hernandez Racing Club.
CABANA BLOWS OUT BULLET FOR SATURDAY'S PURPLE VIOLET
Wayne Saunders and Larry Hirsch's Cabana blew out a bullet three furlongs on Friday morning at Arlington International Racecourse in :36 for trainer Donnie K. Von Hemel. The daughter of Flatter is currently 9-2 on the morning line for Saturday's $100,000 Purple Violet Stakes. The race will be the Illinois-bred's first attempt at restricted company three consecutive open allowance to start the year. The bullet was the best of seven at the distance.
STAKES-BOUND KEPI IMPRESSIVE IN THURSDAY SCORE
Nancy Vanier and Lyda Williamson's Kepi stormed home to an impressive score in a Thursday allowance over the Arlington International Racecourse turf – her fifth victory in 14 local starts – in impressive style under James Graham.
"She ran really well. I have had her ready for quite some time," trainer Brian Williamson reported. "She's been training really well. There was a race at Churchill we almost went to, but I didn't want to ship her."
Things could get more difficult as the 6-year-old stakes-quality mare heads back to tougher competition later this month. "The plan is, if she comes back alright, to go back in the (Lincoln Heritage)," Williamson said. The Lincoln Heritage will not only most likely include tough fillies like La Tia, Bold Kitten and Katie the Lady, but will take place on only 16 days of rest.
Nonetheless, Williamson is not too worried about the lofty competition. "If Katie the Lady goes in there, that'll definitely help against La Tia," he said. "I used to train (La Tia) and I know a little about her – she's just a really nice, tough filly. If there's other speed, we definitely have a chance."
Kepi has faced stakes competition five times and never finished worse than fifth, including a win in the Indian Maid Handicap at Arlington in 2012. Her career has been extremely consistent, including finishing in the top three in 16 of her 19 career starts – many of which were against some of the best Illinois-based turf fillies and mares. On Thursday, she defeated stakes regulars I O Ireland, Goldway and the aforementioned Katie the Lady.
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David Zenner│Senior Manager of Communications
Arlington International Racecourse
2200 W. Euclid Ave. Arlington Heights IL 60006-0007
P 847.385.7535│C: 847.371.1670 | F: 847.870.6727│E: David.Zenner@arlingtonpark.com
Twitter: @dave_zenner, @arlingtonracing
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