Kitten's Roar points to Matriarch Stakes

DEL MAR, Calif. – Kitten’s Roar never had been in California until earlier this month, but she so took to the Del Mar turf that she is making a return visit just three weeks later to try to put bookends on a spectacular month here.

Kitten’s Roar won the Grade 2 Goldikova on the Breeders’ Cup undercard Nov. 4, and her trainer, Mike Maker, on Sunday said Kitten’s Roar would return to California for the Grade 1, $300,000 Matriarch Stakes on closing day this Sunday.

Both the Goldikova and Matriarch are at a flat mile on turf for older females. Kitten’s Roar, 5, is Grade 1-placed, having finished second in the E.P. Taylor at Woodbine in October, but is still seeking an elusive Grade 1 win.

John Velazquez, who rode Kitten’s Roar in the Goldikova, will return to Del Mar to ride Kitten’s Roar in the Matriarch, Maker said.

Hawksmoor, Off Limits, and Rubilinda also were expected to ship in from the East for the Matriarch, whose bulky field is scheduled to include Belvoir Bay, Cambodia, Insta Erma, Lull, Miss Julia Star, Mrs. McDougal, Pretty Girl, and Thundering Sky.

Cambodia (59.60 seconds) and Lull (1:01.60) both worked five furlongs on turf Sunday at Del Mar. Cambodia’s time was the best of 12 at the distance.