Allowance a start for Kissin Saint

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - There are only 36 days until the Kentucky Derby, and it's a long way from allowance company to the world's most famous horse race. But, the connections of Kissin Saint aren't giving up hope that their 3-year-old has enough time to earn a trip down the Triple Crown trail.

Friday, Kissin Saint embarks on what could be an ambitious schedule when he faces five rivals in a nine-furlong allowance race at Aqueduct. Should Kissin Saint perform well Friday, he could be wheeled back in two weeks in the Grade 1 Wood Memorial, New York's last prep before the May 3 Kentucky Derby.

Kissin Saint, a son of Kissin Kris, was claimed by trainer Lisa Lewis and owners Peter Karches and Michael Rankowitz for $50,000 Jan. 14. He won that race by 14 lengths, earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 95 and a good "sheet" number, according to Lewis.

In his first start for his new connections, Kissin Saint overcame a troubled trip to win an entry-level allowance race at one mile by three-quarters of a length. He bobbled at the break and was shuffled back on the far turn before swinging five wide to run down a loose-on-the-lead Swept in Three.

"You can't help but think about the big races if you have a 3-year-old that goes long and wins like he did,'' Lewis said. "He's a big, long-striding horse that's bred to go long.''

Unfortunately, Kissin Saint came out of that allowance race with a leg infection. That, and the brutal winter weather interrupted Kissin Saint's training schedule, meaning this will be his first race in seven weeks.

"It came around quick," said Lewis of the injury. "It could have been a lot worse.

"It did cost us some time. The good thing is he's run long twice. The thing he is short on is experience. If it does look like we could go to the classics with him, we can run him back in the Wood.''

Kissin Saint will break from post 6 under jockey Richard Migliore. He figures to get a good stalking trip behind probable pacesetters Krebsie and Napoleon Solo.

The horse to fear is Look Out Evan, who comes off a five-length victory in a second-level allowance race restricted to New York-breds. Look Out Evan was claimed for $60,000 by trainer Pat Reynolds, who has been very successful this year.

Go Rockin' Robin makes his first start since finishing third in the Whirlaway Stakes. Trainer Scott Schwartz believes his horse will be better the longer he goes and this will be the farthest he's run in his career.

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