
Seven Rivals Set to Go in Evenly-Matched Kitten's Joy
The $100,000 Kittens Joy Stakes features a field of seven three year-olds set to contest the one-mile event on turf Saturday, January 30 at Gulfstream.
Conquest Daddyo (5/2) ran fourth in the 2015 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf to cap his two year-old campaign, and is the deserving favorite while making his sophomore debut. The Mark Casse trainee won 2 of 4 starts last year, including the Grade 2 Summer Stakes at Woodbine before getting a less than favorable trip in the Juvenile. Notably, Conquest Daddyo has raced twice on turf, once over a course rated as good, and once over yielding ground. If lucky enough to catch firm going at Gulfstream, the son of Scat Daddy could show marked improvement. Joe Bravo will be aboard breaking from post 7.
Brown runner always right there
Life Imitates Art (3/1) has shown a penchant for close finishes, finishing second three times and winning her last start by less than a combined half length. The Chad Brown trainee was able to get her head down in time last out winning the Grade 3 Dania Beach after suffering three straight heart-breaking losses. Joel Rosario booted the filly home in that effort and retains the mount for the Kitten’s Joy while breaking from post 6.
Salty makes plenty of sense
Don’t Be So Salty (6/1) has twice recorded Beyer Speed Figures of 87 which match the highest Beyer recorded by any other runner in the field (Life Imitates Art also received an 87 winning the Dania Beach). The front-running Gary Contessa trainee will likely have to rate behind speedy stretch-out sprinter Shoot Craps (15/1), but looks to be a legitimate threat from close range with Javier Castellano in the irons
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