Singing Kitty closes for second straight stakes in China Doll

ARCADIA, Calif. – Singing Kitty, claimed for $32,000 at Los Alamitos in December, won her second consecutive stakes in Saturday’s $91,650 China Doll Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on turf at Santa Anita.

Singing Kitty ($41.60) closed from fourth in a field of eight to win the one-mile turf race by 1 1/2 lengths over Curlin’s Fox, the even-money favorite. She’s a Big Winner, who set the pace, finished third, a nose behind Curlin’s Fox.

Singing Kitty was timed in 1:35.09.

She’s a Big Winner set fractions of 23.07 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 47.34 for a half-mile. She was challenged in early stretch by Singing Kitty, who is trained by Matt Chew.

Singing Kitty races for Chris Aulds and Peter Jeong. A California-bred by Ministers Wild Cat, Singing Kitty won a $32,000 claimer at Los Alamitos on Dec. 11, when she was claimed. She finished seventh in the Blue Norther Stakes on turf Jan. 1 but rebounded to win the California Cup Oaks for statebreds Jan. 24.

Since being claimed, Singing Kitty has earned $170,190.

There were two late scratches. Lutine Belle and Spirit of Xian were withdrawn at the gate. Lutine Belle became unruly and apparently kicked Spirit of Xian in an adjacent stall, stewards said.