Ridden for the first time by Aaron Gryder, Singing Kitty split horses four-wide at the top of the stretch and outdueled favored Heat the Rocks in deep stretch to take Saturday’s $200,000 Xpressbet California Cup Oaks by one length while negotiating one mile on turf in 1:35.70.

A 3-year-old California-bred filly by Ministers Wild Cat out of the Unbridled’s Song mare Natural Singer RN, provided veteran conditioner Matt Chew with his first ever Santa Anita stakes victory. Off at 7-1 in a field of eight California-bred or sired 3-year-old fillies, she paid $17.40, $6.00 and $3.40.

Claimed two starts back for $32,000 at Los Alamitos on Dec. 11, Singing Kitty picked up her third win from seven starts and with the winner’s share of $110,000, increased her earnings to $175,438. She’s owned by Chris Aulds, Brandon Hillman and Peter Jeong.