Mile an experiment for Kiss Kiss Kiss

SAN MATEO, Calif. - Trainer Steve Specht probably would not have considered running Kiss Kiss Kiss in Thursday's Bay Meadows feature, a one-mile allowance race, were it not for an unfortunate incident in her last start.

On Jan. 30, in her first start for Specht after being claimed for $25,000 on Jan. 5, clipped heels and stumbled leaving the gate. She was last with a quarter-mile to run, but passed everyone but her stablemate, Storminbayou-babe. For a filly who had always shown speed, Kiss Kiss Kiss showed a new dimension by coming from behind, and that prompted Specht to try her at a mile on Thursday.

Thursday's race will be the first at longer than 6 1/2 furlongs for Kiss Kiss Kiss, a 4-year-old who has 3 victories, 2 seconds, and 1 third in 8 career starts.

"All her races have been sprinting, so you don't know how she'll handle two turns," Specht said.

Had Kiss Kiss Kiss not finished as strongly as she did in that Jan. 30 race, "I might not have considered" a mile race, Specht said.

With her natural speed, Kiss Kiss Kiss should be on the lead, unless Faxene outruns her. In that case, Kiss Kiss Kiss may get a perfect stalking trip.

, moving up off a strong starter allowance victory on turf, figures to be third in the early going. She is proven around two turns, although both of her victories came on the turf. Also in the race is a stablemate of Noyac's, Winter Runner. She has never beaten winners, and her lone victory came on the turf. But she comes out of a key race in which the top four finishers have come back to win.

* Jockey Alfredo Miranda is serving a 10-day suspension after stewards ruled he had failed to put forth his best effort aboard Quintara in the first race on Feb. 6.