Kissed by a Prince out to spoil repeat bid

FORT ERIE, Ontario - Woodbine-based trainer Mike DePaulo, who won the Canada Day Stakes at Fort Erie July 1 with Krz Ruckus, has been looking forward to Saturday's $75,000 H.A. Hindmarsh Stakes.

The 1 1/16-mile Hindmarsh is restricted to fillies and mares who have been offered for sale at one of Woodbine's open yearling or 2-year-olds in training sales.

DePaulo is confident that his 4-year-old filly Kissed by a Prince will run well in the five-horse Hindmarsh field.

DePaulo called Kissed by a Prince "a very good filly."

Kissed by a Prince, who didn't run at 2, won a stakes by 14 3/4 lengths at Woodbine last year at 3, earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 97.

The lengthy score was in Woodbine's $125,000 Eternal Search at 1 1/16 miles, last July 30. Kissed by a Prince was then put on the shelf for the remainder of the year.

"She tied up on us, and we had a little bit of trouble with her," said DePaulo. "She's all right now. She's a serious horse."

Kissed by a Prince's record was then 3 wins from 6 starts. She had finished first in her debut but was disqualified and placed fourth.

Kissed by a Prince returned to action at Woodbine on May 28 and rallied from the rear to win the six-furlong optional claiming race by a neck.

Regular rider Dino Luciani will be aboard Kissed by a Prince, who will break from post 4.

Last year's Hindmarsh winner, Royal Dalliance, is back for another go. Trained by Joanna Iglar-Hughes, the 7-year-old mare had an outstanding year in 2003, winning two stakes and earning $252,064.

Royal Dalliance began her 2004 season three weeks ago, finishing sixth in the $108,000 Zacracarta, a six-furlong race on the turf.

Na Somsanith retains the mount on Royal Dalliance, who starts from post 2.

Miss Santa Anita, who has a victory and a second-place finish in her two starts at Fort Erie this year, is also a threat. She finished third to a multiple stakes winner, Winter Garden, in the Sweet Briar Too Stakes at Woodbine on June 6. The losing margin was 1 3/4 lengths.

In her last start, on June 20, Miss Santa Anita finished last of four behind the formidable One for Rose, Winning Chance, and Handpainted in Woodbine's 1 1/16-mile Belle Mahone.