Pussycat Doll wins Audrey Skirball-Kenis Stakes

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Pussycat Doll got all lathered up in the post parade and seemed a bit out of sorts before Sunday's $72,150 Audrey Skirball-Kenis Stakes at Hollywood Park, but she had plenty of energy, nervous or otherwise. She overpowered four outmatched rivals in the 1 1/16-mile race and roared to a 6 1/4-length victory, with jockey Garrett Gomez gearing her down the final sixteenth.

"This is a very nice filly. I mean, this was impressive," Gomez said.

Indeed, Pussycat Doll looked like the filly who came within 2 1/2 lengths of champion Sweet Catomine in the Santa Ysabel Stakes earlier this year. Sunday's victory was her third in seven starts, including the Torrey Pines Stakes at Del Mar, and gave every indication that she should be a major player in Santa Anita's series of stakes this winter for 4-year-old fillies of 2006.

Pussycat Doll ($3.20) gave Gomez and trainer Bob Baffert a sweep of the weekend's stakes. They also won the Bien Bien Stakes on Saturday with Chips Are Down.

"She got a little worked up," Baffert said, "but she's never been here to Hollywood Park. The walkover gets them stirred up. She's very immature, but once she learns to settle her nerves a little bit, she's going to become a pretty good filly."

Pussycat Doll was bred and is owned by Mike Pegram, who raced both the sire, Real Quiet, and dam, Hookedonthefeelin. She was timed in 1:42.15 for 1 1/16 miles on the fast main track.

"I think the older she gets, she's going to be really good," Baffert said.

Skipping Court rallied for second, two lengths in front of third-place A Classic Life. Shimmer was scratched the morning of the race, leaving a field of five.