It's not a turf race without at least one progeny of Kitten's Joy carrying the colors of Ken and Sarah Ramsey, and the couple will be represented by three of their famed sire's offspring in today's GIII Dania Beach S. going 7 1/2 panels on the lawn at Gulfstream. Mike Maker-trained “TDN Rising Star” Smokem Kitten leads the trio of Ramsey runners. The gray lived up to his name when he donned cap and gown by 5 1/2 lengths with an ultra-impressive front-running debut victory going 1 1/16 miles over this turf course Dec. 6. “It was a little tough spot coming out of the 14-hole, but we knew he was a horse with some quality so it wasn't totally a surprise,” Maker said about Smokem Kitten's debut victory. “He found himself on the lead, but I think it was more just how the race played out.” Conditioner Wesley Ward saddles the other two Ramsey runners Wayward Kitten and Crown the Kitten. Second on debut behind Stormy Wayllen (Stormy Atlantic) going a mile on the turf at Arlington July 26, Wayward Kitten earned his diploma next out going 1 1/16 miles on the lawn at Churchill Downs Sept. 19 and missed by just a neck in an allowance at that course and distance last time Oct. 26. The chestnut gets the blinkers off for this one and was gelded since his last start. “He may be a little more talented [than Crown the Kitten],” Ward said. “He's just recently gelded, so that should help him. Training both horses, I just think that Wayward Kitten may be a touch better. We took our time getting him ready. He wants to go further.” The well-traveled Crown the Kitten was second on debut sprinting over the lawn at Belmont behind stablemate and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf runner-up Sunset Glow (Exchange Rate) June 6 and was 10th when sent to Royal Ascot for the Chesham S. June 21. Gelded upon his return to the States, the bay earned his diploma at Kentucky Downs Sept. 24 and won Retama Park's grassy one-mile El Joven S. last time Oct. 11. “This is one of the horses that Mr. Ramsey picked out to go to Royal Ascot,” Ward said. “I felt good about sending him over there. He's a nice colt, and he vindicated that loss by coming back with two wins. We're hopeful.” Trainer Wayne Catalano sends out a live one in Stormy Wayllen, owned by S. Moulton, Catalano Thoroughbreds Inc. and D. and E. Yates. Following his debut victory at Arlington, the chestnut missed by just a nose in a grassy optional claimer at Churchill Sept. 5 and returned to his winning ways after a wide trip in a 1 1/16-mile optional claimer back on the Arlington turf course Sept. 28. Hall of Famers Bill Mott and John Velazquez can never be ignored, especially when they join forces as they do today with A Lot (Tapit). The Amerman Racing colorbearer finished eighth after a troubled trip in his main track unveiling at Saratoga Aug. 30 and graduated next out in his turf debut at Belmont Sept. 28. The $410,000 KEESEP purchase was third last time after another wide trip in Belmont's one-mile Awad S. over a yielding turf course Oct. 26.
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