Baltas has pair for Betty Grable

DEL MAR, Calif. – On Sunday, trainer Richard Baltas will send out Del Mar specialist Kiss At Midnight and veteran mare Wild in the Saddle in hopes of claiming the featured $100,000 Betty Grable Stakes, a seven-furlong race for older California-bred females.

Kiss At Midnight has won both of her starts at Del Mar, including one via disqualification. She has crossed the wire first or second in her last four starts going 6 1/2 or seven furlongs.

“I think she’ll love seven-eighths,” said Baltas. “That’s her distance. She’ll make one run.”

Wild in the Saddle, who will be making her 39th start, won the restricted Tranquility Lake here during the summer and most recently gave futile chase to Beholder in the Grade 1 Zenyatta at Santa Anita. She reunites here with jockey Mario Gutierrez, who rode her in the Tranquility Lake.

“Mario rides her best,” said Baltas. “She’s a big, strong mare. She’s shortening up, which I think will help.”