Singing Kitty returns to mile in Autumn Miss
ARCADIA, Calif. – Singing Kitty was a $32,000 claimer last December. She is a three-time stakes winner this year.
“She’s been a blessing for us,” trainer Matt Chew said Thursday. “It’s been an unbelievable run.”
It might not be over. Singing Kitty is thriving this fall and can win her first graded stakes Saturday in the $100,000 Autumn Miss Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Santa Anita.
Earlier at the current fall meeting, Singing Kitty won the minor Unzip Me Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course. The Grade 3 Autumn Miss is run at a mile on turf.
“The other day was a bit of an experiment, but she’s versatile enough to do both [distances],” said Chew.
Singing Kitty, who races for Chris Aulds and Peter Jeong, is part of a tough field of 10 in the Autumn Miss. The cast includes Hundi, an import from England; Majestic Heat and Paulina’s Love, who were fifth and seventh in the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks; and Dreamologist, a sharp maiden-race winner Sept. 4 at Del Mar.
Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer will send All Star Bub and Miss Boom Boom, each seeking her first stakes win.
Key contenders
Singing Kitty (Last 3 Beyers: 92-84-72)
* Singing Kitty has won 3 of 7 starts and earned $255,800 since being claimed. Last winter, she won the California Cup Oaks for statebreds and the China Doll Stakes against open company, both at a mile on turf here. In those races, Singing Kitty raced from off the pace.
* Rafael Bejarano has the mount Saturday. He rode Singing Kitty for the first time in the Unzip Me. Chew expects another patient ride.
“The race has a lot of speed, and I’ll let Rafael use his judgement,” he said.
Paulina’s Love (Last 3 Beyers: 86-88-82)
* Paulina’s Love was third in the Grade 2 San Clemente Handicap at a mile on turf July 19 at Del Mar, her best result in a stakes. Trained by Richard Baltas, Paulina’s Love is expected to race near the front.
Majestic Heat (Last 3 Beyers: 82-88-89)
* Majestic Heat followed her fifth-place finish in the Del Mar Oaks with a troubled fourth as the 2-1 favorite in an optional claimer Sept. 5 at Del Mar. Shortly after that race, Majestic Heat was transferred from trainer Barry Abrams to Richard Mandella at Abrams’s suggestion, according to owner Madeline Auerbach.
* Auerbach said Abrams thought a change of stables could benefit Majestic Heat, who has won 2 of 6 starts while racing exclusively on turf. Auerbach and Abrams bred Majestic Heat, but Auerbach since has bought Abrams’s share.
Hundi (No previous Beyer)
* Hundi needed eight races to beat maidens in England, finally doing so in May. She later was sixth of 17 in the tough Sandringham Handicap for 3-year-old fillies at Royal Ascot in June but was well beaten in minor stakes at Sandown Park and York in July. She won on firm turf and should get those conditions Saturday.