Old Friends Welcomes Big Blue Kitten

Old Friends, the Thoroughbred retirement farm in Georgetown, Ky. is pleased to announce the arrival of multiple graded-stakes winner, and 2015 Eclipse Award Champion Grass Horse, Big Blue Kitten, to the farm on Thursday, April 24, 2025. The 17-year old stallion was donated to Old Friends courtesy of Calumet Farm. "We are so excited to welcome this robust, battle tested late bloomer to Old Friends," said John Nicholson, President and CEO of Old Friends. "His accomplished career, his impressive connections and his pleasant demeanor will make him a favorite with our thousands of visitors. We are deeply grateful to Calumet Farm for allowing us to give Big Blue Kitten his forever home." Bred by Kenneth L. and Sarah K. Ramsey, Big Blue Kitten, who is by Kitten's Joy—Spent Gold, by Unaccounted For, was foaled in Kentucky on May 1, 2008. Big Blue Kitten began his race career as a 3-year old in 2011 under the care of trainer Chad Brown, for his owners, the Ramseys. His first two starts came in maiden special weight races at Gulfstream Park, and he got his first career win in his second start on March 20. That win was also the beginning of a five-race win streak for the bay stallion, which included a win in a claiming race at Keeneland, two wins at Belmont Park in allowance races, and then a win in the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes (G2) at Saratoga for his first graded-stakes victory. In 2013 as a 5-year old, he won two Grade 1 races, the United Nations Stakes (G1), and the Sword Dancer Invitational Stakes (G1), and then in 2014 as a 6-year old, he won the Lure Stakes (Black Type). As a 7-year old in 2015, Big Blue Kitten had the best race season of his career. While still in the care of Brown for the Ramseys, he had wins in the Fort Marcy Stakes (G3), the United Nations Stakes (G1), and the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes (G1). He also finished second in the Knob Creek Manhattan Stakes (G1), and the Arlington Million XXXIII Stakes (G1), and was third in the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1). For his efforts that year he won the Eclipse Award as Champion Grass Horse. Also in 2015, after the Arlington Million Stakes, Calumet Farm purchased the rights to stand Big Blue Kitten following his racing career. Big Blue Kitten returned to the track in 2016 as an 8-year old, and ran three times while still being trained by Brown, but now for Calumet Farm. In his first start for his new connections, he finished fifth in the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic Stakes (G1), followed by a sixth in the Woodford Reserve Manhattan Stakes (G1), and then an eighth in the Northern Dancer Turf Stakes Presented by HPIBet (G1). That start would be the final one of his career. He finished with 14 wins, eight seconds, five thirds, and $2,983,350 in earnings in 33 starts. Big Blue Kitten began his stud career in 2017 at Calumet, and was a successful sire. To date he has sired seven six-figure earners: Cellist ($838,582), Hart of a Kitten ($360,000), Ocelot ($299,783), Britains Kitten ($241,279), Kitten with a Whip ($145,078), Enraged ($131,766), and one Korean runner, Mighty Good, who has earned (approximately) $140,162.04 US. Following the 2022 breeding season, Big Blue Kitten was pensioned, and in 2025 Calumet decided to send Big Blue Kitten to Old Friends to enjoy the remainder of his retirement.