Agave Kiss wins the G3 Cicada under Ryan Curatolo 3/10/12 (Adam Coglianese)
Flying Zee Racing Stables’ multiple stakes-winning sprinter Agave Kiss (Lion Heart) – never headed in her first six career starts – has been retired from racing due to ankle problems and is booked to Tapit, according to a report in the Daily Racing Form.
Trained by Rudy Rodriguez, Agave Kiss began her career in late 2011 with a pair of victories against state-breds by a combined 16 3/4 lengths. Moving straight into open stakes company as a sophomore, she went on to win four straight, taking the Ruthless Stakes in January and the Grade 3 Cicada in March at Aqueduct, the Trevose Stakes at Parx as the 124-pound highweight, and capping the series by wiring the Miss Preakness Stakes on the Black-Eyed Susan undercard. Later in the year, Agave Kiss secured a placing in the Grade 1 Prioress at Saratoga and finished second, beaten only a neck, in the Valor Lady at Belmont.
Ramon Dominguez pilots Agave Kiss to a 5-length victory in the Miss Preakness Stakes 5/18/12 (Jim McCue/Maryland Jockey Club)
Bred by Nustar Breeding LLC, a partnership headed by the late Carl Lizza and his wife Viane, and foaled at Highcliff Farm in Delanson (now Highcliff Stallions), Agave Kiss is a daughter of Lion Heart out of 2011 New York Broodmare of the year Salty Romance (Salt Lake).
Viane Lizza, who took over Flying Zee Racing Stable after her husband’s death in 2011 said, “It was a complete joy to watch her run. She came around at a good time. We had a ball with her. She doesn’t owe us a thing. Hopefully, she’ll make a good mother.”
Agave Kiss retires with a record of 6-1-1 from 10 starts and $339,400 in earnings.
