South American import Last Kiss finds out where she fits class-wise
ARCADIA, Calif. – Last Kiss was one of the leading 3-year-old fillies in Argentina and Brazil in the final months of 2014, a span in which she won a Group 1 race and was second and third in two others.
Whether Last Kiss will compete at that level in the United States will be known to some extent when she makes her American debut for trainer Neil Drysdale in a second-level optional $62,500 claimer at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Santa Anita on Friday.
Last Kiss is part of an oversubscribed field of 13. The race will be limited to eight starters because the temporary rail is set 30 feet from the permanent inside position. As a result, there are five fillies and mares on the also-eligible list, including Rattataptap, who was third in the Grade 3 Torrey Pines Stakes at Del Mar on Aug. 30, and Chaulk O Lattey, who was second in the Solana Beach Handicap at Del Mar on Aug. 16.
Race 7
KEY CONTENDERS
Last Kiss (North American debut)
◗ Owned by Alessandro Arcangeli, Last Kiss has won 2 of 6 starts. Last Kiss won a Group 1 race at about 1 1/8 miles on turf in Brazil last October and later finished second and third in Group 1 races at about 1 1/4 miles on turf.
◗ The distance of Friday’s race is Last Kiss’s minimum trip, Drysdale said.
“I think nine furlongs is good for her,” he said. “She’s doing really well. I’m happy with her.”
◗ James Graham will ride Last Kiss, a 4-year-old filly by Elusive Quality.
Bottle Blonde (Last 3 Beyers: 89-76-67)
◗ In April, Bottle Blonde was second in a $16,000 claimer at Golden Gate Fields. She won a $25,000 claimer at the Oak Tree at Pleasanton meeting on July 3 and scored an 18-1 upset in a $40,000 claimer at Del Mar on Sept. 3.
“Sometimes horses go up and down, and sometimes they get better,” trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said. “Most of the time, they don’t. She’s getting a little better maybe.”
◗ Bottle Blonde tends to race near the front and could have an early lead in a race that lacks a confirmed pacesetter.
Del Mar Ann (Last 3 Beyers: 78-75-51)
◗ Del Mar Ann was seventh in a maiden race on dirt at Los Alamitos in July and won two races on turf at Del Mar – a $62,500 claimer for maidens Aug. 5 and an optional claimer Aug. 29.
“We were thrilled with her at Del Mar, and hopefully the thrills continue,” trainer Eric Kruljac said. “The distance is good. The lack of pace will be a little test.”