‘Kitty scores first graded stakes win as 17-1 shot

Showing some versatility in her first collaboration with young jockey Joe Talamo, Ashley’s Kitty, a 17-1 shot, became a graded stakes winner Sunday at Hollywood Park.

Rallying from well off the pace, the 3-year-old Tale Of The Cat filly got the lead in the final eighth of a mile, then held off the surge of favored Silver Swallow to win the $111,000 Railbird by a nose. The final time for the seven furlongs was 1:22.80.

Never far off the lead in two wins to begin her career against lesser at Santa Anita, Ashley’s Kitty took advantage of the anticipated quick early fractions to provide Talamo, 17, with his first graded stakes victory in the Grade II.

Ashley’s Kitty -- owned by Oak West Farm and trained by Ted H. West, who picked up his first win of the spring-summer meet -- could have been claimed for $100,000 in her debut score Feb. 7. She has won three of four, with her only loss coming when she finished ninth of 11 in the Providencia at a mile on the Santa Anita turf about five weeks ago.

“I have to give all the credit” to West, said Talamo, who had two other winners Sunday. “He settled her down a lot. In the first two races, she was up close, but today she rated really nicely for me. She was able to sit right behind and rate.”

Silver Swallow -- who finished second to Rags To Riches, the best 3-year-old filly in the country, in this year’s Santa Anita Oaks -- finished two lengths clear of Sindy With An S, the 5-2 second choice who lost for the first time in three starts for trainer Mike Mitchell.

“It was a tough loss, but I like the way she ran,” trainer Bruce Headley said of the runner-up, who probably will surface next in the $150,000 Hollywood Breeders’ Cup Oaks at a longer distance (1 1/16 miles) on June 10.

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Two days before entries will be taken, eight 3-year-olds are considered probable for the Preakness on Saturday at Pimlico.

Besides Street Sense, Hard Spun and Curlin, the first three finishers in the Kentucky Derby, the 1 3/16 -mile race is expected to include C P West, Flying First Class, Mint Slewlep, King Of The Roxy and Xchanger.

Street Sense, who won for the second time in three starts in 2007 in the Derby, galloped 1 1/4 miles at Churchill Downs on Sunday morning. The Street Cry colt will be shipped to Maryland on Wednesday, according to trainer Carl Nafzger.

“He’s doing great,” Nafzger said. “We’re just trying to keep him happy. That’s all you can do between the Derby and the Preakness.”

Chelokee, a troubled third in the Florida Derby on March 31 at Gulfstream Park, had been considered for the Preakness, but trainer Michael Matz said the colt will instead run in the Barbaro Stakes on the undercard. Named to honor the 2006 Kentucky Derby winner who was trained by Matz, the Barbaro was formerly called the Sir Barton.

“I’d say unless something happens where some of the top three horses scratch out, we’ll probably go in the Barbaro,” Matz said. Chelokee worked five furlongs in 1:01 at the Fair Hill Training Center in Elkton, Md., on Sunday.

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Jockey Aaron Gryder, who has been sidelined since April 27 because of a hairline fracture to a shoulder blade, will return to riding Wednesday. He is named on two horses -- Holly Torque Tango in the second race and Red Opal in the sixth.

bob.mieszerski@latimes.com