Kitten's Joy Stakes

The Kitten's Joy Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for horses three years old at the distance of one and one-sixteenths mile on the turf held annually in late January or early February at Gulfstream Park, Hallandale Beach, Florida. The event currently carries a purse of $175,000.

History
The race was inaugurated in 2012 over the distance of $1 1/16$ miles after Kitten's Joy who was a multiple graded stakes winner and the 2004 American Champion Turf Horse. Kitten's Joy also won the Grade III Palm Beach Stakes at Gulfstream Park where this race is held.

The event was shortened in one mile in 2015 and once again in 2018 to the current distance of about $1 1/16$ furlongs.

In 2020 the event was upgraded to a Grade III.

In 2021 the distance of the event was increased to 1 mile.

The 2013 winner Charming Kitten and the 2017 winner Kitten's Cat were both sired by Kitten's Joy. Also both winners were owned Kenneth L. and Sarah K. Ramsey who also owned Kitten's Joy.

In 2022 the distance of the event was increased again to $7 1/2$ miles.

Records
Speed record:
 * 1 mile: 1:39.78 – First World War (2024)
 * 1 mile: 1:35.18 – Chess's Dream (2021)
 * about $1 1/16$ furlongs: 1:28.25  –  Island Commish  (2020)

Margins:
 * $7 1/2$ lengths – 	Howe Great   (2012)
 * Most wins by a jockey:
 * 3 – John R. Velazquez  (2013, 2015, 2019)
 * 3 – Tyler Gaffalione  (2021, 2023, 2024)


 * Most wins by a trainer:
 * 3 – Todd A. Pletcher  (2013, 2022, 2023)


 * Most wins by an owner:
 * 2 – Kenneth L. and Sarah K. Ramsey (2013, 2017)