Singing Kitty & Aaron Gryder Win At Santa Anita Park

Two Straight Stakes wins for Singing Kitty

By: Natalie Rietkerk

Coming off an exciting 7-1 upset in the $200,000 California Cup Oaks in January, Singing Kitty scored an even more impressive victory in Saturday’s $75,000 China Doll Stakes at Santa Anita Park. The 20-1 long shot bested a field of eight strong fillies by two lengths and proved her last triumph was not a fluke.

“This win feels like a bigger accomplishment, even though the purse is smaller it meant more,” said veteran trainer Matt Chew, who claimed the striking bay 3-year-old for co-owners Peter Jeong and Chris Aulds for a modest $32,000 late last year. “She has always been a good horse and it’s nice she’s getting recognition. She is maturing and developing really well. We are very fortune to have her.”

Going into the China Doll Stakes, Singing Kitty’s connections knew she would be facing much tougher competition. The imposing Curlin’s Fox, with Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith aboard, was the heavy favorite at 5/2 and some of Santa Anita’s top trainers such as Bob Baffert and Jerry Hollendorfer were ready to face off. Chew was hopeful the filly would place and felt she had improved since her last start but knew what she was going up against.

I caught up with Singing Kitty’s jockey, Aaron Gryder, after the race.

“When I worked her in the mornings, Matt wanted me to help her feel less anxious and try to help her settle. He wanted to make her relax and be calm. The last time I rode her before the race, I felt it was the best she had ever gone and Matt thought so too,” said Gryder.

As the horses entered the paddock for the China Doll Stakes several fillies began to unravel, but not Singing Kitty. She remained calm and composed under Gryder as they headed towards the track. At the starting gate, the anticipation proved too much for one horse that reared and slipped—accidently connecting with the horse beside her. Both were scratched by the track vet as a precautionary measure. Singing Kitty and Gryder remained out of the fray until the horse next to them reared moments before the gate opened.

“I felt the trouble at the starting gate actually worked to our advantage. Singing Kitty is very focused and Aaron is great at keeping horses relaxed,” Chew stated.

Chew was very confident in Gryder’s natural instincts, giving him little instruction on how to ride Singing Kitty in the race. Tapping into his more than 30 years of experience and 3,000 career wins, Gryder skillfully navigated Singing Kitty over the mile on the turf.

“I had to be very strategic riding this race, I had to save ground and avoid going wide. I let her advance at the half mile pole to gain position. I wanted to put a gap between us and the favorite, Curlin’s Fox. Once I got past Maybellene, Singing Kitty extended herself to chase down the lead horse and I let her go,” said Gryder.

The win marks the first back to back stakes wins for Chew who has been training thoroughbred race horses for 33 years and is a third generation horseman. A dedicated trainer, Chew spends almost all his time at the track caring and working with his horses. Underestimated for most of his career, Chew is enjoying the accolades of the recent success of Singing Kitty. This year is off to great start for Chew Racing with five wins, four places and nearly $250,000 earnings.

“Without Singing Kitty none of this would be happening. I’m grateful to be able to work with a horse like this and be a part of her career,” Chew said.

In all equine sports, often the success of the horses comes from their connections. Singing Kitty has some of the kindest and most dedicated in the racing industry. Both Chew and Gryder participated in the Thoroughbred Classic Horse Show, presented by the CARMA-Siegel Foundation, and support Thoroughbred after-care programs.

“I love what I do and watching the horses develop. I think I have the best job in the world and the horses are what keep me going. There is nothing like becoming one with the horse in a race. With Singing Kitty I just wanted to let her settle and run her race. She definitely has talent and I’m thrilled to be on her,” Gryder said.

A fierce competitor on the track, Singing Kitty affectionately called Kitty, is an absolute sweetheart who loves attention. She receives plenty of it from exuberate first time owner, Jeong, who visits her almost daily. When interviewed after the race, he attributed her wins to his massages—in addition to Chew’s training and Gryder’s riding, of course.

“This means we can enter in bigger races now! Those were some great horses and she beat them,” Jeong cheered in the winner’s circle alongside his family

Perhaps now the handicappers will give Singing Kitty the odds she deserves since she’s upset their wages for two straight races. Seeing her cross the finish line brought tears to my eyes and warmed my heart to see such deserving individuals win the race when most had overlooked them. I’ll consider her two wins my own California Chrome type story.

So what’s next for Singing Kitty? There has been debate about trying her on dirt for the Evening Jewel Stakes or shipping up to Golden Gate for an upcoming turf race.

“It’s still early and we haven’t officially decided,” Chew stated. “Before we claimed her, her two wins were on the dirt so we know she can do it. She’s bred to run long races on turf though, so we’ll see what happens.”

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