Hot Kiss looking to repeat in Trillium Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Hot Kiss recorded her fifth consecutive win when taking last year’s Trillium Stakes by 1 3/4 lengths over Sweater Weather. She’ll look to begin a new winning streak in this year’s $100,000 Trillium Stakes for older fillies and mares over 1 1/16 miles on Tapeta on Sunday at Woodbine.

Hot Kiss will make her second start of the year in the Trillium, having finished fourth in the prep for this race over 1 1/16 miles on May 20. Hot Kiss broke from the gate on top under jockey Jesse Campbell and set slow fractions before giving up the lead in the late going to eventual winner Lilly’s Goldie.

Trainer Mike De Paulo said Hot Kiss has been doing well ahead of the Trillium.

“She’s been great,” he said. “We’re hoping for the same kind of result for sure. She won it last year, so it would be good if she could defend her title.”

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Hot Kiss came from off the pace to win last year’s Trillium but has been close to the pace in some recent starts. De Paulo said he would like to see Hot Kiss just off the lead in the Trillium.

“I guess it kind of depends on the pace,” he said. “Hopefully, there will be some speed in this race to run at.”

Key Contenders

Hot Kiss, by Philanthropist
Last 3 Beyers: 80-81-88

◗ If Hot Kiss does find herself on the lead again, she might be harder to catch with a race under her belt.

◗ She has four wins from 11 starts at 1 1/16 miles, having finished in the money eight times.

Kyllachy Queen, by Kyllachy
Last 3 Beyers: 88-NA-88

◗ She’ll make her third start in North America and her second for trainer Christophe Clement. She does have synthetic experience, having won at Kempton on Polytrack in April 2016.

◗ She finished second in her most recent start on yielding turf at Keeneland in April, a neck behind Shelbysmile. Shelbysmile was eased in the Grade 2 Nassau Stakes here on May 27.

Uchenna, by Fastnet Rock
Last 3 Beyers: 81-87-71

◗ All five runners from the allowance prep May 20 will run back in the Trillium, including Uchenna, who finished three-quarters of a length behind Lilly’s Goldie in second. She could move forward off of that first race of the year and did win the Belle Mahone Stakes with an 87 Beyer Speed Figure at this distance on the Tapeta last September.

Minks Aprise, by Northern Afleet
Last 3 Beyers: 87-85-86

◗ She’ll make her second start for trainer Roger Attfield, having rallied for second behind Code Warrior in the Grade 3 Hendrie Stakes over 6 1/2 furlongs here on June 4. She’s suffered narrow defeats in her last two starts over 6 1/2 furlongs and seven furlongs and should welcome the stretch-out to two turns. In her 17 starts, she’s raced just twice at 1 1/16 miles.

Lilly’s Goldie, by Milwaukee Brew
Last 3 Beyers: 82-81-83

◗ She’s won both of her starts this year and four of her last five but will make just her second start against stakes company. It also will be her third start around two turns in her 14th start.

◗ In last year’s Grade 2 Bessarabian Stakes over seven furlongs, she trailed early before rallying to finish a length behind a five-horse blanket finish that was won by River Maid.