The Kittens Joy
$150.000 For Three Year Olds
1 1/16 Miles – Turf
Gulfstream Park – January 31, 2026

Mb Stables played the role of kill joy as his blue-blooded aptly named homebred Joykiller stormed down the stretch yanking the ball of yarn away from eleven other three-year-olds hoping to hit the wire first in this year’s Kittens Joy. The field included last year’s BC Juvenile turf champ Britslastempire who found his daunting 127-pound impost to be too much on this occasion. He’ll be back and at more fair weights in the future for a truer test but this day belonged to Joykiller.

Winner: Joykiller (Mb Stables/I. Ortiz Jr.) Walk Em Down/Ms Joyce (Creepy Time) The big regally bred chestnut colt was kept well back early around the first turn and moved into a pouncing position down the backstretch and that is exactly what he did moving into the final turn. Although Smoking Future and No Prince had gained some nice separation, Joykiller was looming boldly and began to reel them in as they hit the homestretch. His charge was timed perfectly to storm past the top two but hold off the late appearance and threat of Hegroen. 

Second: Hengroen (Delta Farms/P. Husbands) Beast/Paradise Awaits (Maximum Security) Was sitting on the rail right beside the winner around the first time but allowed Joykiller to move forward sooner as they hit the backstretch. While Joykiller was beginning to threaten, Henogroen was content with the trailers waiting to move late. Accelerated nicely when Husbands chirped around the final turn and mounted an impressive charge when he found clear running late. Excellent return to the turf and bodes well for his future.

Third: No Prince (Mb Stables/J. Lezcano) Prince George/No Self Esteem (Sweet Sweat) The first three quarters of the race played out as a match race of sorts between No Prince and Smokin Future. The two three-year-olds battled and opened up a few lengths on Britslastempire  who was sitting back in third. It appeared that No Prince was going to lose that personal battle as Smokin Future gained the advantage on him going into the final turn, but No Prince showed grit to come back and grab third. First start for his new barn after being purchased for $200.000 was a promising one.

Fourth: Smokin Future (Red Fox Farms/D.E. Centeno) Smokin Lemon/Les Miserables (Aggravation) From the same barn and stallion as last year’s winner Smokin Access he was sent hard from the outside gate twelve and joined No Prince in a battle for the lead. The separated from the field and then Smokin Future made a strong move going into the final turn that made it look like he might take the whole thing but although he held on stubbornly, he faded a little bit at the end to be caught again by No Prince but also by the late charging top pair. 

The Kittens Joy marks Joykiller’s second straight win in three lifetime starts. He is TC nominated and working very well on the dirt. Given how he won here, distance does not look like an issue and my inner Miss Cleo tells me to expect to see him on the TC trail shortly. 

Preview Pick: Britslastempire finished ninth. He crossed the wire five lengths behind the winner after stalking in third most of the race. He has won four of six including the BC Juvenile Turf and carried six pounds more than Joykiller up front. Look at this race as a conditioner.

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded