Kiss the Devil rocks Mint Julep at 13-1

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Kiss the Devil got a perfect stalking trip under Lonnie Meche and held off favored Quick Tip to score a 13-1 upset in the 27th running of the Grade 3, $168,300 Early Times Mint Julep Handicap at Churchill Downs on Saturday.

Owned by Churchill board chairman Carl Pollard and trained by Dave Vance, Kiss the Devil took over from front-running Crystal Sea turning for home, then had just enough left to prevail by a neck over Quick Tip, the 8-5 favorite in a field of nine fillies and mares. Cellars Shiraz, the 120-pound highweight, was another length back in third.

Before a crowd of 10,121, and over firm turf, Kiss the Devil was always poised to strike behind fractions of 23.52 seconds, 47.32, and 1:11.33. Meche eased her to the front and opened a clear lead in midstretch. She finished 1 1/16 miles in 1:41.73 and paid $29.60.

Kiss the Devil, a 5-year-old mare by Kris S., now has won six of 21 starts. The Dade Turf Classic last summer at Ellis Park was her only previous stakes win. She probably will run back June 28 in the $150,000 Locust Grove at Churchill.

In earlier races:

* Sharbayan ($3.40), owned by Horizon Stable and trained by Wally Dollase, was up in the final jump to edge Foster's Landing in a $43,300 third-level allowance on turf. Pat Day was up.

* Trainer Steve Asmussen unveiled a promising 2-year-old in the first race, Best to Be King ($7.80), who cruised to an 8 1/2-length victory under Meche in his career debut. Best to Be King, a colt from the first crop of Menifee, ran the five furlongs in 57.31 seconds.

* Twilight Road ($11.40), ridden by Day, caught favored Strength and Honor in the final strides to win the feature on Friday's twilight program, a $58,900 allowance at 6 1/2 furlongs. Twilight Road, a 6-year-old gelding owned by Donamire Farm, got up by a head for his seventh career win.

The top two finishers likely will meet again in the June 21 Aristides Handicap.