Quiet Kitten gets perfect trip to win Claiming Crown Tiara

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Quiet Kitten parlayed a perfect trip into a convincing two-length victory over the longshot Seneca Destiny in Saturday’s $125,000 Claiming Crown Tiara at Gulfstream Park. Wild Swava, the 5-2 favorite, finished another three lengths farther back in third.

With regular rider Matthew Rispoli aboard, Quiet Kitten stalked the early pace of Big N Toasty, readily took command entering the far turn, quickly drew clear, repulsed a mild bid from Wild Swava while kept well out near the middle of the course, and was not menaced thereafter. Seneca Destiny rallied wide and was second-best despite finishing on her left lead. Wild Swava angled inside to move within easy striking distance of the winner in early stretch but could not sustain the bid.

Quiet Kitten, a 3-year-old daughter of Kitten’s Joy, has shown marked improvement since winning her entry-level allowance condition Aug. 28 at Monmouth Park. She had finished second making her stakes debut in the Cellars Shiraz at Gulfstream Park West in her previous start. Trained by Marcus Vitali for the Crossed Sabres Farm, Quiet Kitten returned $9.20 after completing 1 1/16 miles over a “good” course in 1:48.51.

Vitali said he wasn’t concerned about all the rain that had softened the turf course some throughout the week.

“She had won most of her turf races here at Gulfstream, and she definitely encountered it wet before,” said Vitali. “I was hoping there would be some speed in front of her and she wouldn’t get to spinning her wheels, and Matt [Rispoli] laid off the speed and when he asked, she gave her what she had and that was enough. She’s just gotten better and better. The Kitten’s Joy’s take a while to get their act together, most of the ones I had matured into good race horses.”