Kiss the Daddy continues resurgence in Power by Far

After going 3 for 30 to start her career, Kiss the Daddy has now reeled off three consecutive wins. Her upswing has corresponded with trainer John Dunn’s decision to switch the 5-year-old Kiss the Daddy to turf.

On Saturday, Kiss the Daddy won the $78,750 Power by Far Handicap at Parx Racing while making her first stakes start. The Power by Far, a five-furlong turf sprint for fillies and mares, was one of two Pennsylvania-bred stakes on the card. Two races earlier, Saham, making his first start in statebred company, won the Crowd Pleaser Handicap, a 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds.

Kiss the Daddy, a daughter of Scat Daddy, received a perfect trip under jockey Hector Caballero. She saved ground in the second flight behind front-running 15-1 shot Silver Tesor, angled outside the leader in upper stretch, and then outfinished Previous Honor by three-quarters of a length for the decision.

Kiss the Daddy paid $11.60 as the third choice in the 10-horse field. She was timed in 57.57 seconds after Silver Tresor set fractions of 22.59 and 45.51.

Royal Renege closed late at 5-1 to finish third, three-quarters of a length behind Previous Honor. Fast Kat, the 2-1 favorite, was forwardly placed outside horses early, bid for the lead three wide, but tired to finish ninth in the 10-horse field.

Dunn switched Kiss the Daddy to grass four races ago. She was third in a first-level allowance race in her grass debut, and then won a $25,000 starter race. In her start prior to the Power By far, she won an allowance race.

Crowd Pleaser: Saham much the best

Saham, based in Kentucky with trainer Brendan Walsh, had raced in Florida, Kentucky, and Indiana in his first seven starts, but not in his native state of Pennsylvania. Expect to see him again as he certainly seemed to enjoy the statebred stakes ranks.

Saham, a son of Lemon Drop Kid, was never far back in the $75,000 Crowd Pleaser. He tracked pacesetting Roxbury N Overton to the stretch, took over, and then held off the late run of Cat Humor by 2 1/4 lengths under jockey Frankie Pennington.

Saham paid $4.60 as the favorite in the nine-horse field. He was timed in 1:42.90.

The Augustin Stable entry of Cat Humor and Street Fashion finished second and third. Cat Humor, trained by Graham Motion, closed well and finished 2 1/2 lengths in front of Street Fashion, who is trained by Jonathan Sheppard.

Duff, who was forwardly placed along the inside early, finished fourth. Roxbury N Overton was fifth after setting fractions of 23.76, 48.12, and 1:12.25.