For Kisses finishes fast to nip Now It Begins

For Kisses came from far back, erasing a 3 1/2-length deficit in the final furlong, to run down 9-5 favorite Now It Begins by a neck and earn the first stakes win of her career in the $45,000 Squan Song at Laurel Park.

The Squan Song, restricted to Maryland-bred fillies and mares who had never won a stakes, was the second straight victory for the 4-year-old For Kisses ($7.20) since she was reunited with jockey Rosie Napravnik.

"It's a match made in heaven," said trainer Richard Small, noting that Napravnik "fits her perfectly."

In her previous start, For Kisses upset multiple stakes winner Silmaril in a one-turn mile.

"I think it's the chute," Small said of For Kisses's recent success. "She likes running out of the chute."

For Kisses ran seven furlongs on a fast track in 1:26.75. Her uncoupled stablemate, Take a Check, finished third in the field of 10.