Kiss Moon Makes Grade in Mint Julep
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Kiss Moon collared front-runner I'm Already Sexy in late stretch and thrust out her head on the line to win the $100,000 Old Forester Mint Julep (gr. IIIT) June 6 at Churchill Downs .
The victory was the first in a graded stakes for the daughter of Malibu Moon who covered 1 1/16 miles in 1:40.94 on firm turf. I'm Already Sexy, the 3-1 favorite, was 1 1/4 lengths clear of third-place finisher Strike Charmer.
Kiss Moon was settled in fourth as Maid On a Mission dashed out to lead pressed by Already Sexy, about a half length back. The opening quarter went in a quick :23.09 before I'm Already Sexy took over heading into the backstretch. Kiss Moon edged up closer in third as I'm Already Sexy kept a clear advantage through a half mile in :47.77 and the six furlongs in 1:10.90.
I'm Already Sexy hit the top of the stretch still in control and looked set to go on to victory. Kiss Moon was just in behind, a length back in second, and in the long drive down the stretch for Corey Lanerie steadily reeled in I'm Already Sexy to prevail in a tight finish at 8-1 odds.
Carl Pollard's Kiss Moon has a 5-1-3 record from 14 lifetime starts for trainer David Vance and bounced back from her 11th-place finish in the Churchill Distaff Turf Mile (gr. IIT) on Kentucky Derby Day. That race kicked off her 2015 campaign after more than five months off following her third in the Mrs. Revere Stakes (gr. IIT) Nov. 15 at the Louisville track.
Kiss Moon paid $19.40, $10.60, and $5.60, and I'm Already Sexy returned $5 and $3.20. Strike Charmer paid $4 to show.
Kitty Wine was fourth, followed by Aurelia's Belle, Keening, Personal Diary, Kepi, Maid On a Mission, Bitty Kitty, Femme Fatale, and Canny Nanny to complete the order of finish.
A stakes winner last year at Indiana Grand and Arlington International Racecourse, Kiss Moon placed in several graded stakes in 2014 before Saturday's breakthrough, also including her runner-up finish in the Fantasy (gr. III) after a third in the Honeybee (gr. III), both at Oaklawn Park and third in the Regret (gr. III) at Churchill.
Bred in Kentucky by Pollard's Hermitage Farm, Kiss Moon has bankrolled $349,596 in three seasons after going unsold at the 2012 Keeneland September yearling sale, where bidding reached $80,000. Her dam is Pollard's 2003 Mint Julep winner Kiss the Devil, a daughter of Kris S. who also has produced grade III-placed multiple stakes winner Kiss Mine, by Mineshaft.