Precious Kitten in control throughout Palomar

DEL MAR, Calif. - Precious Kitten's domination of the female turf division at Del Mar continued on Saturday with a front-running win in the $222,000 Palomar Handicap.

Ridden by Julien Leparoux, Precious Kitten set early fractions of 23.95 and 47.28 seconds, led by a length on the backstretch and was never truly tested. Black Mamba got within three-quarters of a length at the finish, but the win was never in jeopardy.

Precious Kitten ($3) ran 1 1/16 miles on turf in 1:40.42. Kris' Sis, close throughout, finished third in the field of nine fillies and mares.

The victory marked the eighth consecutive race in which Precious Kitten has finished first or second. The streak includes five stakes wins.

Precious Kitten won the Grade 1 John Mabee Handicap last month for owners Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey and trainer Bobby Frankel. She has won 6 of 16 starts and $1,039,688.

Frankel had two fillies entered in the Grade 2 Palomar, and opted to scratch the 2006 Grade 1 winner Price Tag on Saturday morning.