Turf Paradise: E Z Kitty repeats in Kachina Handicap

E Z Kitty successfully defended her title in the $35,000 Kachina Handicap at Turf Paradise on Wednesday, drawing off for a two-length victory.

With Scott Stevens aboard, E Z Kitty initially was unable to take her usual spot at the front of the pack and settled into third place as Gosailgo and Love Makor battled through an opening quarter-mile in 22.80 seconds. E Z Kitty stuck her head in front after a half-mile in 45.69, built a one-length lead after six furlongs in 1:09.53, and stretched her advantage to 4 1/2 lengths at the top of the lane.

E Z Kitty stopped the clock for the one-mile race on a fast track in 1:36.04 and paid $4 as the favorite in a field of nine fillies and mares. She was the 123-pound highweight, conceding three to five pounds to her rivals.

Kind of Naughty rallied from sixth place early to finish second, 1 1/2 lengths ahead of third-place Lady Jila.

E Z Kitty, trained by Jeff Metz for the Highlander Racing Stable, wired last year’s Kachina Handicap by 4 3/4 lengths to begin a 2013 campaign in which she won five stakes races – two at Turf Paradise and three at Emerald Downs. The biggest score of her year was a 3 1/2-length victory in the Emerald Distaff Handicap in August.

E Z Kitty, a 6-year-old daughter of He’s Tops, has won 14 of 26 career starts for $302,174 in earnings. She’s 3 for 5 on the main track at Turf Paradise and has hit the board in each of those contests.