Sale Features High-Profile Buybacks

Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s Stephanie’s Kitten (Kitten’s Joy), a late-closing second behind wire-to-wire winner Dayatthespa (City Zip) in Saturday’s GI Breeders’ Cup F/M Turf, was one of several high-priced RNA’s during Monday night’s sale. The 5-year-old mare (hip 141) will return to the races under the Ramseys’ colors next year after RNA’ing for $3.95 million. 

“We’re going to race her and probably sell her next year after she wins the Eclipse Award,” Ken Ramsey confirmed. 
Still smarting over Stephanie’s Kitten’s futile attempt to catch the freewheeling Dayatthespa, Ramsey added, “I can tell you one thing about her for sure, she will never race again without a rabbit. I will not let one gallop around to the head of the stretch and sprint home again without somebody softening them up a bit. So that’s the plan for next year.” 

Of the mare’s reserve, Ramsey said. “We would have taken $4 million for her. That was the cutoff. We said we’d be happy if we sold her for $4 million and if she doesn’t sell for $4 million, we’re still happy.There are no tears in my eyes, no regrets. I’m just bitterly disappointed that we didn’t win the big race Saturday.” 

Directly following Stephanie’s Kitten into the ring was Mike Repole’s Stopchargingmaria (Tale of the Cat) (hip 142). Winner of this year’s GI Alabama S. and GI TVG Coaching Club American Oaks, the sophomore filly will return to trainer Todd Pletcher after RNA’ing for $3.15 million Monday. 

“She just didn’t bring what we wanted her to and we’re happy to bring her back to the stable,” Pletcher commented. 
The night’s most expensive RNA price came for 2012 GI Kentucky Oaks winner Believe You Can (Proud Citizen) (hip 170). Consigned by Brereton Jones’s Airdie Stud and in foal to Tapit, the mare RNA’d for $4.9 million.