Top Kisser rallies to take California Governor's Cup

Second choice Top Kisser, content to sit back early, made a strong, winning move into the stretch and then held off stablemate Scarlet Strike to win the $75, 560 California Governor's Cup Handicap at the State Fair in Sacramento on Saturday.

The 5-year-old Top Kisser ($6) won her 2014 debut in the Spring Fever Stakes at Santa Anita on April 26 and had just run third in the Oak Tree Distaff at Pleasanton on June 28. Both races were at six furlongs.

She was making her first main-track start at 1 1/16 miles in the Governor's Cup, although she had won at the distance on turf.

She sat fourth in the field of seven older fillies and mares through the opening quarter as 8-5 favorite Unusual Way set the pace. Top Kisser, three wide on the first turn, moved up going down the backstretch while still under a snug hold by jockey Russell Baze.

She made a strong move into the stretch to take command of the race as Unusual Way, who wound up last, tired badly.

Although Scarlet Strike was gaining through the lane, Baze kept Top Kisser going and won by one-half length in 1:43.43. Late-running Vincenza finished third, 1 3/4 lengths back while winning a photo from Loveintheshadows.

Top Kisser, a Tommy Town Thoroughbreds homebred trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, earned $45,0050. The victory was her sixth in 12 starts and boosted her career earnings to $322,900.