Kiss Moon handles turf in Hatoof

Familiarity with the family provided trainer David Vance with some clues that Kiss Moon’s future might lie on turf. The filly proved her trainer right, notching her first career stakes victory in a division of the $75,000 Hatoof Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on turf Saturday at Arlington Park.

Vance saddled Kiss the Devil, dam of Kiss Moon, to win the Grade 3 Mint Julep Handicap on turf. Another of the mare’s daughters, Kiss Mine, was a multiple stakes winner on turf for Vance.

In her own turf debut, Kiss Moon crossed the line a troubled fourth – elevated to third via disqualification – in the Grade 3 Regret Stakes in June at Churchill Downs.

“He figured she could run on the turf, and it sure looks like she loves it,” said Trisha Vance, David Vance’s daughter and assistant.

Lovely Loyree tracked an honest early pace set by Bonita Song in the Hatoof, and briefly snatched the lead away in upper stretch. But Robby Albarado angled Kiss Moon ($6.20) outside of the new leader for room and the filly was full of run, kicking clear and easily holding off Maria Maria to win by a length. She stopped the clock in 1:42.83 for 1 1/16 miles on turf rated firm.

Kiss Moon now has won 3 of 9 career starts, with wins on turf, dirt, and synthetic. She was graded stakes-placed on dirt earlier this year, finishing second by a half-length in the Grade 3 Fantasy Stakes at Oaklawn.

Earlier, Annulment nosed out Tempers Flair to capture the first division of the Hatoof in a four-horse blanket finish. The filly, trained by Vicki Oliver, atoned for a poor performance in a local prep last month, when she was last of 10 in the Grade 3 Arlington Oaks on the all-weather surface.

Under Javier Castellano, Annulment ($26.80) settled just off the pace early as Zubi Zubi Zu was allowed to coast through a half in 50.61 seconds and six furlongs in 1:15.46. Despite that early going, the pack engulfed the leader in upper stretch, with Annulment splitting horses to prevail by a nose. The final time was 1:44.82.

"I had a beautiful trip," Castellano said. "Just where I dreamed I wanted to be, the way I handicapped the race. [We were] close to the pace, and I really liked the way she did it today. We just kept track of the pacemaker all the way through the race, and turning for home, I tried to find the best place, find daylight."

I Got It All scores in Straight Line

I Got It All got burned up a fast pace June 28 in the Iowa Derby, but Saturday he stalked his way to victory in the $67,000 Straight Line, an overnight stakes for 3-year-olds at one mile on Polytrack.

I Got It All had won over the same one-turn main-track trip in May 31, beating Illinois-breds in the Springfield Stakes, and he had little trouble handling open competition Saturday. Good Bye Greg, the 5-2 favorite, set out for the lead and got there easily, laying down comfortable splits of 23.87 seconds for the first quarter-mile and 46.87 for the opening-half, but he was swallowed up at the top of the stretch as I Got It All and Channing Hill swept to the lead. Stormy Pacific came out and made a decent late run for second, but he was no match for the winner, with Good Bye Greg holding third.

I Got It All, a gelded son of Tiz Wonderful trained by Tom Swearingen – who also is part of the partnership that owns the horse – ran one mile in 1:37.36 and paid $10.80 to win.

- additional reporting by Marcus Hersh