Blissful Kiss wins her maiden in style

MIAMI, Fla. - Blissful Kiss was a maiden going in but a stakes winner coming out of Saturday's $100,000 J j'sdream Stakes, winning by 6 3/4 lengths over another maiden, Lacy Lady, in the

5 1/2-furlong dash for 2-year-old fillies.

Blissful Kiss, a homebred daughter of Kissin Kris owned by John Franks, had finished a troubled third in her only previous start.

Blissful Kiss broke alertly under jockey Andrew Ramgeet and dueled the undefeated Little Miss Echo for the early advantage. Line of Fire, considered the stronger half of the favored Angel Salinas-trained entry, was in close pursuit. Blissful Kiss shook off Little Miss Echo leaving the turn, settled into the stretch with a commanding advantage, and increased it under steady urging. Lacy Lady, coupled with Line of Fire, saved ground around the turn and wore down Little Miss Echo to finish second. Line of Fire tired badly and finished 10th in a full field of 12.

Blissful Kiss returned $32.60 after covering the distance in 1:06.55 over a fast track.

"Mr. Franks thought this was one of his better 2-year-old fillies and purposely sent her here because he thought she was [Florida] Stallion Stakes caliber," said trainer Bill White.

White had enough time to get three strong works into Blissful Kiss prior to the J j'sdream. She also ran on Lasix for the first time.

"She broke a step slow and got some dirt kicked in her face in her first start and didn't run her race," he said. "She also bled a small amount, although I don't think the Lasix was the difference today. It was having a race under her belt and getting a chance to put a little more training under her."

White said that Blissful Kiss would likely make her next start in the $75,000 Dessert Vixen Stakes on Aug. 11, opening leg of the filly division of the Florida Stallion Series.