Kerry's Kiss splashes to Breeders' Cup berth in Princess Rooney
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A sudden downpour that hit the local area just prior to post for the $225,000 Princess Rooney Stakes may have changed the condition of the racetrack but did little to dampen the speed of Kerry’s Kiss. The Saffie Joseph Jr. trainee splashed her way to a gate-to-wire, 1 1/2-ength victory over the heavily-favored Simply Joking in the Grade 3 local fixture to earn herself an automatic, fees-paid berth into this year’s Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.
Kerry’s Kiss’ victory gave Joseph his fourth consecutive win in the Grade 3 Princess Rooney.
Breaking alertly under regular rider Edwin Gonzalez, Kerry’s Kiss quickly sprinted clear of stablemate Anakarina in the opening furlong of the Princess Rooney. Kerry’s Kiss settled into the stretch with a comfortable advantage then was kept under vigorous urging to remain clear of Simply Joking at the end.
Simply Joking, who was Grade 1-placed in her previous start, raced within easy striking distance from the outset and continued willingly to the end. Despite gaining gradually, she never seriously threatened the winner through the final furlong.
Just a Philly rallied from last down the backstretch to finish another length farther back in third. She was followed by the tiring Anakrina, the disappointing Indy Bay, and No Bad Beats, who was never a factor.
The win was the third in a row for Kerry’s Kiss since being purchased privately and turned over to Joseph following an allowance win around two turns this spring at Oaklawn Park.
Kerry’s Kiss completed seven furlongs in 1:25.33 seconds over a racetrack downgraded from fast to “good” as a result of the sudden storm. She paid $6.40.
“You never want rain and a surface that just changes like it did right before the race, although you’re never going to really complain when you win,” Joseph said by phone from Lexington minutes after the race. “It’s an unknown variable, it rained very hard and definitely slowed the track down, and when that happens you never know how things will turn out. I think it definitely effected Indy Bay, who was done after three-eighths.”
But Joseph was grateful the unexpected change in the weather did nothing to hamper Kerry’s Kiss from continuing her winning ways.
“I’m just thankful she [Kerry’s Kiss] handled it,” said Joseph. “She definitely stepped up her game today and beat a really good filly [Simply Joking] as a result.”
Joseph won the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint with Soul of an Angel off her victory in the Princess Rooney and it appears he will try to duplicate that feat again with Kerry’s Kiss this fall at Keeneland.
“I think there is a very strong possibility we will go to the Breeders’ Cup with her,” said Joseph. “She’s an improving filly with a lot of speed and Keeneland is a racetrack that favors that kind of running style. So, why not?”
* In earlier stakes action, Mattingly ($11.00) rallied from last to first to overtake Joseph’s tepid favorite Thought Control to win the $100,000 Bob Umphrey Turf Sprint, while Miss Mary Nell ($10.80) and jockey Jonathan Ocasio held safe a late surge from the favored Fantasy Performer to capture the $100,000 Ginger Punch Handicap.
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