Sweet Kisses could be dangerous on the lead in allowance

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Sweet Kisses could pull a Shancelot in the featured eighth race Thursday at Oaklawn Park.

She has a chance to wire the field – emulating the running style of her older half-brother Shancelot.

The race Thursday is an optional $80,000 claiming sprint for 3-year-old fillies that carries first-level allowance conditions. It will be run over six furlongs. The five-horse field also includes Kiss the Girl, runner-up in the Grade 3 Schuylerville last year at Saratoga.

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KEY CONTENDERS

Sweet Kisses, by Carpe Diem
Last 3 Beyers: 57-56-75

◗ She’s shown speed in her career just like Shancelot, a son of Shanghai Bobby whose three wins have come wire to wire. Shancelot’s victories include the Grade 2 Amsterdam last July 28 at Saratoga, for which he earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 121.

◗ Sweet Kisses also won last year at Saratoga, taking a maiden special weight sprint July 19. She covered six furlongs in a quick 1:09.78 and in the race defeated Finite, who has since won four stakes, including the Grade 2 Rachel Alexandra last Saturday at Fair Grounds.

◗ Sweet Kisses, who is out of the stakes-winning mare True Kiss, also is a half-sister to Tiz Kissable, who has placed in four stakes, including the Grade 3 Torrey Pines, and One True Kiss, whose stakes-placings include the Grade 2 Sorrento.

◗ Sweet Kisses is launching her season Thursday off a third-place finish in the $75,000 Letellier Memorial on Dec. 21 at Fair Grounds. She has since been working at Oaklawn for trainer Jeremiah Englehart, whose first two wins at the meet were with 3-year-olds.

◗ David Cohen has the mount from the rail for Johns Martin.

Raggedy Annie, by Union Rags
Last 3 Beyers: 65-53-6

◗ She owns the field’s best last-race Beyer Figure, a 65, after closing from 12th for second in a first-level allowance sprint Jan. 24 at Oaklawn. The undefeated winner of that race, Ring Leader, came back to capture the $125,000 Dixie Belle last Saturday at Oaklawn, earning a Beyer Figure of 77.

◗ Raggedy Annie will break from post 3 for the Churchill Downs Racing Club. Trainer D. Wayne Lukas has given the mount to Alex Canchari.

Kiss the Girl, by Into Mischief
Last 3 Beyers: 52-80-61

◗ She owns the field’s best career Beyer Figure, an 80 for finishing second by a neck in the Schuylerville last July.

◗ Kiss the Girl had won her maiden one start earlier at Belmont Park over Sweet Kisses.

◗ Ricardo Santana Jr. has the mount on Kiss the Girl from post 5 for Three Diamonds Farm and trainer Steve Asmussen.