Kitten’s Joy Stakes Handicapping Picks
Horse racing gamblers are you looking for 2021 Kitten’s Joy Stakes Free Pick & Handicapping Odds…plus some predictions? Need some advice on who to take? The 2021 Kitten’s Joy Stakes is set for January 30 at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida. Here’s a preview of our top contenders.
Kitten’s Joy Stakes Preview and Prediction
- Race: Kitten’s Joy Stakes
- Purse: $100,000
- Track: Gulfstream Park
- Date: January 30
- Post Time: 1:10 PM (ET)
- Live: Kitten’s Joy Stakes Odds: Click Here
Odds listed here are from Bovada’s racebook.
2021 Kitten’s Joy Stakes Handicapping
Named for the 2004 American Turf Champion horse Kitten’s Joy, the Kitten’s Joy Stakes is one of five graded-stakes races on the Saturday afternoon card at Gulfstream Park.
Open to horses age three, the Kitten’s Joy is run at a flat mile on the Gurlfstream turf course. The race has drawn a tough field of seven entries, with several previous stakes winners.
2021 Kitten’s Joy Stakes Free Pick & Handicapping: Never Surprised Race Odds: 9-5
Unbeaten in two previous lifetime starts, Never Surprised has shown a ton of speed in both those races, scoring Equibase speed figures in the high 90s in those races run on the Aqueduct turf.
Two starts back he broke his maiden first out, sitting off a fast early pace before taking over and winning by 3 1/2 lengths racing six furlongs. He then stepped up to stakes company and took the field wire-to-wire to win the Central Park Stakes at 1 1/16 miles.
Trainer Todd Pletcher won the Kitten’s Joy in 2013. Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. gets the call to ride.
2021 Kitten’s Joy Stakes Free Pick & Handicapping: Kentucky Pharoah Race Odds: 5-2
After starting his career with a pair of mediocre efforts on the dirt, Kentucky Pharoah switched to turf racing for his last two and became a completely different horse.
He wired the field to win both those efforts going one mile on the Gulfstream grass to win by open lengths. Last out he took the Dania Beach Stakes by 3 lengths, drawing away from the pack with ease in the stretch.
The trainer is Jack Sisterson, jockey Julien Leparoux won the race in 2018.
2021 Kitten’s Joy Stakes Free Pick & Handicapping: It’s A Gamble Race Odds: 9-2
The well-travelled It’s A Gamble has made five lifetime starts at five different tracks and has two wins to show for his efforts.
He has had trouble in stakes company, however, as he has made three previous tries at the stakes level and finished out of the money in all three. Last out he was fifth of six in the Dania Beach, more than four lengths back of Kentucky Pharoah.
He’s trained by Kelly Breen, while jockey Luis Saez tries for his second Kitten’s Joy win.
2021 Kitten’s Joy Stakes Free Pick & Handicapping: Sigiloso Race Odds: 10-1
Although he only has two previous starts, Florida-bred Sigiloso is similar to Kentucky Pharoah in that he made a huge improvement when moved from the dirt to turf.
He showed very little in his first start on the Gulfstream dirt, finishing fifth and more than 17 lengths back of the winner. Put on the grass next out, he scored his maiden win by coming from off the pace to get up by a neck racing one mile.
Antonio Sano is the trainer, jockey Edgar Zayas will be in the saddle.
Here’s My 2021 Kitten’s Joy Stakes Free Pick.
On paper this is a match race between the top two contenders, and it’s difficult to see anyone else pulling the upset.
On one hand you have the pure speed of Never Surprised, on the other you have the apparent horse-for-the-course based on Kentucky Pharoah’s two straight wins at the track and distance. You could flip a coin, but I’m going to go with the speed and bet Never Surprised for the win.
Full Field: Kitten’s Joy Stakes Betting Odds
- Never Surprised 9-5
- Kentucky Pharoah 5-2
- It’s A Gamble 9-2
- Original 5-1
- Chess’s Dream 8-1
- Sigiloso 10-1
- Chao 12-1
What do you think of our 2021 Kitten’s Joy Stakes Race Odds & Predictions? Weigh in below with a comment. We welcome your feedback.
Register here for a FREE Sports Betting Account Now for Daily Free Picks & More Special Offers!