Cowtown Cat became the first Florida freshman to sire a winner when his two-year-old filly Richie’slilcowgirl scored a debut win in the first race at Arlington Park on May 11. The bay filly flashed good early speed from the gate and impressively drew off to a front-running, five-length victory in the $40,000 Maiden Special Weight heat for debutantes.
Trained by Larry Rivelli, Richie’slilcowgirl stopped the timer in 52.27 for 4 ½ furlongs over the local Polytrack, earning a healthy 71 Beyer Speed Figure for the performance. The debut win earned her $24,000 for owner Richard Ravin, who purchased the filly as a yearling at OBS for $17,000.
Richie’slilcowgirl was bred in Florida by Sharon and Greg Carnivale of Full Circle Farm. The filly is the first foal to race from the winning Favorite Trick mare Tricks After Dark.
Cowtown Cat, by leading sire Distorted Humor, was a $1.5 million sale-topping two-year-old. An impressive maiden winner at two, Cowtown Cat captured two Kentucky Derby prep races at three when he won the Gotham S. (G3) and Illinois Derby (G2) for owners WinStar Farm and Gulf Coast Farms. He retired to Brent and Crystal Fernung’s Journeyman Stud as the most accomplished son of Distored Humor in Florida with earnings of $562,228.
Cowtown Cat has been very well-received at the sales with his first crop of runners. Three juveniles have sold for six figures at the two-year-olds in training sales, including one for $120,000 and a pair for $105,000, and he holds a strong average of $51,464.
Out of the Storm Cat mare Tom’s Cat, Cowtown Cat is standing 2012 in Ocala for a fee of $4,000, stands and nurses. He currently ranks No. 2 on the Leading Freshman Sires List for North America.
