Kiss Thru Fire looks to start strong second half in Abigail Kawananakoa Stakes
There have been more losses than wins this year for Kiss Thru Fire, the champion aged Quarter Horse mare of 2021.
Fortunately for Kiss Thru Fire there are ample opportunities in upcoming major stakes this weekend and the rest of the year to remedy the scoreline.
On Sunday, Kiss Thru Fire will start in the $100,000 Abigail Kawananakoa Stakes for fillies and mares at 400 yards, a race launched this year to provide more opportunities for older Quarter Horse fillies and mares.
The development of the Kawananakoa gives Los Alamitos three six-figure races for fillies and mares. Kiss Thru Fire won the $100,000 Charger Bar Handicap in January. The most prestigious race of the series is the $125,000 Mildred Vessels Memorial Handicap at 400 yards on Sept. 18.
The Kawananakoa honors the achievement of the noted owner and breeder. Ms. Abigail, as she is commonly known, owned A Classic Dash, winner of the 1993 All American Futurity at Ruidoso Downs among many stakes winners.
Owned by Kirk Gentry and trained by Juan Aleman, Kiss Thru Fire is part of a field of seven in Sunday’s race and has several familiar rivals.
In her last two starts, Kiss Thru Fire has been beaten by Jet Wings One, who is undefeated in three starts this year and is part of the Kawananakoa field. Kiss Thru Fire was third by a length as the 1-2 favorite to Jet Wings One in the Denim N Diamonds Handicap in February, and second by a neck to that rival in the Miss Princess Stakes on May 8.
Those races were run at 350 yards. Kiss Thru Fire may have an edge at 400 yards. Jet Wings One, trained by Monty Arrossa, won the California Derby Challenge at 400 yards at Los Alamitos in her first try at the distance in May 2021, but was eighth at the distance in the Challenge Derby Championship at The Downs at Albuquerque last October.
Kiss Thru Fire has won 5 of 17 starts at 400 yards and been disqualified from two additional wins at the distance.
Sunday’s race also includes Famous Shining Star, who was third in the Miss Princess by three-quarters of a length, and College Scandal, second in two minor stakes for Gentry and Aleman earlier this year but only sixth of 10 in the Miss Princess Handicap.