Highly-regarded since the start of her career last winter but somewhat of a disappointment in stakes company, Warren B. Williamson’s Curlin’s Sox performed to early expectations Friday with a romping triumph in the featured $87,400 Sandy Blue Handicap fpr three-year-old fillies.

 

Sent to the front leaving the gate by jockey Mike Smith, Curlin’s Fox enjoyed a clear advantage all the way to the wire, winning the one-mile grass race by four and one-half lengths. Her time of 1:33.25 set a stakes record, bettering the former mark of 1:33.94 by Sarach in the 2013 Sandy Blue.

 

Singing Kitty was second, edging out Havanna Belle by a head with 7-5 favored Spirit of Xian a fading fourth. Completing the line-up was Princess Charm. Withdrawn from the original field was Zipessa.

 

Curlin’s Fox, a daughter of Curlin and the outstanding racemare Foxysox, went postward the 2-1` second choice and returned $6.20, $3.80 and $3. She earned $49,560 with her third win in six starts and now has accumulated $157,690 in earnings. The Carla Gaines-trained filly broke her maiden in her first outing, then was second in a minor stakes and  fourth in the Santa Anita Oaks before winning a turf sprint at Santa Anita. On June 27, she was ninth and last as the 4-5 favorite in the Grade III Senorita Stakes.

 

Singing Kitty paid $7.80 and $3.40, while third-place Havanna Belle returned $3.60.

 

In Friday’s supporting feature, a mile three-eighths turf marathon for older horses, 52-year-old Hall of Famer Gary Stevens guided Wanstead Gardens to a $14.80 upset. Wanstead Gardens,  a son of Flower Alley trained by Neil French, scored by three and one-quarter lengths in 2:13.74. Texas Ryano was second and King of Jazz third in a field of eight horses.

 

In Friday’s Pick Six, with a carryover of $58,279 from Thursday, $489,836 in “new” money was wagered for a total pool of $548,115. There were three perfect tickets and each paid $106,654.60.