Hot Kiss extends winning streak to five in Trillium

ETOBICOKE, Ontario — Hot Kiss extended her win streak to five races with a handy score in her stakes debut in Sunday’s $118,800 Trillium at Woodbine.

Hot Kiss ($7.60) raced in fourth on the backstretch in the 1 1/16-mile route, as the favored Academic and Galina Point traded places up front through soft fractions. Galina Point assumed command on the far turn, before Hot Kiss rallied wide in the lane to prevail by 1 3/4 lengths in 1:45.10.

Galina Point weakened to third, and Don’t Leave Me went by a tiring Academic to end up fourth, in a field reduced to seven after three scratches.

Jesse Campbell rode the temperamental Hot Kiss, who banked $72,000 for Phoenix Racing.

“The help does a great job with her,” said Campbell. “She isn’t the easiest filly in the morning, and you’ve got to give the gallop-boy a ton of credit. They do all the team work, and I just pointed her the right way today.”

Trainer Mike DePaulo said Hot Kiss basically trains herself.

“I shouldn’t be sending the owners a bill for this one,” DePaulo said. “She’s her own project. We’re hoping she’s our replacement for [retired champion Pender Harbour]. She’s by Philanthropist, and she’s gotten better as she’s gotten older. And I think the way the track’s playing, it really suits her.”