Kiss At Midnight at home in dirt sprint

ARCADIA, Calif. – There will be few experiments with distances and surfaces for Kiss At Midnight. The 5-year-old mare starts Thursday at Santa Anita in an optional claimer at 6 1/2 furlongs, conditions that are close to perfect for her.

“I think she’s a late-running sprinter on the dirt,” trainer Richard Baltas said. “That’s what she’s always been. We tried turf, and we tried long.”

Kiss At Midnight won her first start of 2017 in an optional claimer at seven furlongs on dirt at 10-1 on March 4. She was sixth in an optional claimer on the hillside turf course May 4.

Kiss At Midnight drew the outside post in a field of five for the fourth race on an eight-race program. The card includes a carryover of $253,350 in the single-ticket jackpot pool of the $2 pick six. The pick six covers the third through eighth races Thursday.

KEY CONTENDERS

Kiss At Midnight, by Decarchy
Last 3 Beyers: 61-77-76

◗ Kiss At Midnight has won 5 of 18 starts and earned $358,138. Technically, she is a stakes winner, having been promoted from second to first in the Fleet Treat Stakes at Del Mar in July 2015 after Big Book was disqualified for a medication violation.

◗ One concern regarding Thursday’s race is the absence of pace. Shy Carmelita, who won an optional claimer at six furlongs May 6, is likely to show speed from the rail. Cuddle Alert, who won the Spring Fever Handicap for California-bred fillies and mares in February, can race near the front.

◗ Baltas said jockey Rafael Bejarano is unlikely to change Kiss At Midnight’s strategy.

“She makes one run, and that’s her deal,” he said. “You can’t rush her.”

◗ A former maiden claimer, Kiss At Midnight races for a partnership that includes William Marasa, Nancy Messineo, Richie Robershaw, and Mark Rose.

Shy Carmelita, by Grazen
Last 3 Beyers: 81-69-78

◗ Shy Carmelita was the 20-1 surprise winner of an optional claimer on a wet-fast track May 6, her third win in nine starts and her second race of 2017.

◗ Trained by Phil D’Amato, Shy Carmelita has won twice at Santa Anita by disputing the pace.

◗ Edwin Maldonado rode Shy Carmelita for the first time May 6 and has the mount Thursday.

Avicii, by City Zip
Last 3 Beyers: 77-71-77

◗ Avicii has been popular with bettors, owners, and trainers in the last year. A 6-year-old mare, Avicii has been favored in five of her last seven starts and has been claimed five times during that span for values ranging from $20,000 to $45,000.

◗ Avicii is entered to be claimed Thursday for $62,500. A seven-time winner in 29 starts, Avicii was second to Shy Carmelita on May 6 but did win a race with similar conditions in February.

◗ Trained by Peter Miller, Avicii is a threat as a stalker.