Jim McCue/Maryland Jockey Club
No one can guess what will happen when a competitor looks Flying Zee Racing Stables’ Agave Kiss in the eye, simply because, after the bell, not one of her 38 rivals to date has been able to do so. Agave Kiss’s latest victims were the six 3-year-old fillies who saw only her heels as she wired the $100,000 Miss Preakness Stakes on the Black-Eyed Susan undercard, while running up her career record to a perfect six-for-six.
Bet down to 3-5 favoritism by post time, Agave Kiss bounded out of stall seven and quickly opened up daylight on the field under Ramon Dominguez – tapped by trainer Rudy Rodriguez because regular jockey Ryan Curatolo was absent in France to arrange visa issues. The pair never looked back for the remainder of the six-furlong dash.
After clocking the first quarter in 23.06, they sped things up to run the half in 45.37 (22.31), before crossing the wire in 1:10.40, 5 1/2-lengths clear of second place finisher, second choice Millionreasonswhy. Ageless finished third.
Dominguez said, “She broke sharp and put herself in front. She just kept opening up. I had a strong hold on her and then I just tapped her on the shoulder a couple of times and there was no stopping her.”
Trainer Rudy Rodriguez added, “We felt very confident coming in. She’s very, very special. I was not worried about any of these horses. But I know in the future there are bigger races and deeper fields coming. We are just trying to get her ready for those bigger races. She just keeps improving.” Those “bigger races” in the future are likely to be the Grade 1 filly sprints at Saratoga – the six-furlong Prioress on August 4 and the seven-furlong Test on August 25.
Agave Kiss, a daughter of Lion Heart whose career began with a pair of victories against state-breds by a combined 16 3/4 lengths last year, has thrived and improved with each start at three. She won Ruthless Stakes in January and the Grade 3 Cicada in March on the Aqueduct inner oval, both by open lengths. In her last start, she handily took the Trevose Stakes at Parx Racing as the 124-pound highweight. Agave Kiss has earned $267,900 from her perfect six-race record
Bred by Nustar Breeding LLC and foaled at Highcliff Farm in Delanson, Agave Kiss is a daughter of 2011 New York Broodmare of the year Salty Romance (Salt Lake). Purchased by Flying Zee’s Carl Lizza as a two-year-old in training for $320,000 at the 2003 OBS Open sale, Salty Romance went on to win the Delta Princess S. at two and run second in the Grade 3 Santa Ysabel S. at three, earning $229,200.
Salty Romance topped the second phase of last year’s Flying Zee dispersal, purchased by Blue Devil Racing Stable for $260,000 in foal to New York sire Cosmonaut. Salty Romance’s 2010 filly by Lemon Drop Kid, named One Time Only, topped the yearling portion of the Flying Zee dispersal at the Fasig-Tipton Fall sale last October, purchased by Glen Hill Farm for $375,000. Salty Romance also produced multiple stakes-placed Luxury Appeal by Johannesburg ($70,960).
