Late bloomer Hot Kiss has big shot in featured route
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Hot Kiss has blossomed this fall for trainer Mike De Paulo and should be favored in Thursday’s Woodbine feature. The 1 1/16-mile race combines non-winners-of-three Ontario-sired allowance types with $40,000 conditioned claimers.
Hot Kiss, a 3-year-old by former Ontario sire Philanthropist, graduated fifth time out in an Ontario-sired maiden special weight race going nine furlongs July 17. After a failed turf experiment a month later, she finished a lapped-on third behind Kavika and Crack That Whip in an allowance.
Hot Kiss took her game to another level in front of a big crowd Oct. 18, Canadian International Day. After racing in seventh early, she rallied strongly on the outside off slow fractions to prevail by half-a-length at a generous 7-1 under Jesse Campbell.
De Paulo said it took some time for Hot Kiss to get her act together.
“She was a little different mentally, but she’s starting to put it together,” De Paulo said. “She was a bit of a kook around the gate, but she’s figuring it out. She’s coming along.”
Six others were entered in the seventh race on an eight-race program.
KEY CONTENDERS
Hot Kiss (Last 3 Beyers: 76-73-63)
◗ She worked an easy half-mile in 50 seconds on the dirt training track here last Thursday, a maintenance move.
“That’s pretty much standard for her,” De Paulo said.
Poly Anna (Last 3 Beyers: 59-71-60)
◗ She gave the favored stakes winner Wild Catomine a run for her money when second at this class level Sept. 18. Most recently, she stepped up to a first-level allowance and was bet down to favoritism because of the relatively weak field but could only manage fifth after a three-wide stalking trip.
◗ Patrick Husbands, who was aboard for her two tallies in the summer, has the mount for trainer Ricky Griffith, a combination that is 6 for 16 at the meet.
Partyonthepatio (Last 3 Beyers: 57-70-58)
◗ She went to the sidelines after finishing fourth at this level June 5 following a daylight score against $40,000 non-winners-of-two stock. Her Oct. 23 comeback on grass was lackluster, but she worked a bullet half-mile in 47.40 seconds on Polytrack last week.
Rebel Witha Chance (Last 3 Beyers: 70-69-46)
◗ She’s riding the wave of back-to-back wins, against Ontario-sired maidens and $40,000 conditioned claimers. It wouldn’t be surprising to see her set a moderate pace under Omar Moreno, who rides the bulk of trainer Laurie Silvera’s runners.