Agave Kiss retired, booked to Tapit

One of trainer Rudy Rodriguez’s stakes winners from 2012, the New York-bred Agave Kiss, has been retired from racing because of ankle issues, Rodriguez said.

Viane Lizza, whose Flying Zee Racing Stables campaigned Agave Kiss, said Thursday that Agave Kiss would be bred to Tapit. Agave Kiss arrived at Gainesway Farm in Kentucky on Thursday, after vanning from Gulfstream Park.

Agave Kiss, a daughter of Lion Heart, won the first six starts of her career, including the Grade 3 Cicada last March at Aqueduct. Her other stakes wins included the Ruthless, also at Aqueduct, the Trevose at Parx, and the Miss Preakness at Pimlico. Though she lost her final four starts, Agave Kiss did finish third in the Grade 1 Prioress last summer at Saratoga.

Agave Kiss earned $339,400.

“It was a complete joy to watch her run,” said Lizza, who took over the stable following the death of her husband, Carl Lizza, in 2011. “She came around at a good time. We had a ball with her, she doesn’t owe us a thing. Hopefully, she’ll make a good mother.”