By Heather Anderson
Owner/breeder Ken Ramsey is no stranger to going after what he wants. Whether it is reaching the heights on the racetrack, to promoting his stallion Kitten's Joy, the octogenarian usually has a plan. With GIII Horseshoe Casino Cincinnati Spiral S. hero Oscar Nominated (Kitten's Joy), Ramsey has found his 2016 GI Kentucky Derby horse. The only problem? He needed to pay the $200,000 supplemental fee for the chestnut, after missing the second cut-off to be nominated to the Triple Crown. After the horse he claimed won the Spiral S. prep at 23-1, Ramsey made a very public offer for money.
“As a sporting gesture, if someone wants to put up $200,000, then I will split my earnings for the Triple Crown races 50-50,” Ramsey reflected. “I did have a gentleman call back and accept [my offer]. Barring misfortune, we're going to be in the Derby, come the first Saturday in May.”
Ramsey, whose International Star (Fusaichi Pegasus) was scratched the morning of the Derby after a foot issue last May, clarified, “No co-owner, it would be strictly me and my silks and all that. I probably will invite him to the winner's circle if I win, but he would have no ownership interest whatsoever. As far as I know, he is still on board.”
“Regardless, the horse will be in the Kentucky Derby,” Ramsey added. “We have a chance to make a little bit of history here. I go back a long ways and I'm 80 years old. I remember when Hirsch Jacobs claimed Stymie. They say that Stymie is the greatest claim in history, so if I should take this one who I claimed, and go on to win the Derby, well I guess that puts me right in the history books with Hirsch Jacobs and Stymie.”
Ramsey concluded, “After analyzing it, I really feel he [Oscar Nominated]'s a contender, not a pretender. It could be an investment instead of a wild gamble or speculation because I do own the stallion Kitten's Joy. If he should win this race or run first, second, or third, in those races [Preakness/Belmont], he'd bring a lot of attention to my stallion. If I didn't have the sire, it'd be a little bit questionable on why I'd want to roll the dice and pay $225,000 dollars. Basically, money is not the only thing in life, so we're going to do it.”
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