Delightful Kiss has gone a year and a half without a win, but the man who trained him for most of his career believes the 6-year-old, Florida-bred gelding still has a few big efforts left in him. And if Delightful Kiss turns in a top effort in Friday’s $125,000 Cougar II Handicap (G3) at Del Mar, he could return to racing’s biggest stage.
The winner of the Cougar II automatically earns a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Marathon at Churchill Downs in November. Delightful Kiss, who has earned $1.09 million during his 31-race career, finished fourth in the 2008 BC Marathon, two lengths behind the victorious Muhannak. He missed last year’s Breeders’ Cup after sustaining a severe ankle injury in the Canadian Turf (G3) at Gulfstream Park in February 2009, sidelining him for 11 months.
Delightful Kiss has gone winless in eight starts since capturing the Hal’s Hope Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park in January 2009. He earned a career-best 102 Beyer Speed Figure in that race, rallying from last place in a field of 14, some 16 lengths off the pace, to score by three lengths. The son of Kissin Kris, bred at Ocala’s Hobeau Farm, has finished fifth in his two most recent starts, the Berkeley Stakes (G3) at Golden Gate Fields in May and an $80,000 optional claimer at Hollywood Park on July 15.
The Cougar II covers 1 ½ miles on Del Mar’s artificial surface and drew a field of seven 3-year-olds and up. Delightful Kiss earned one of his biggest wins going 12 furlongs on a synthetic surface, taking the 2008 Turfway Park Fall Championship Stakes (G3) by 1 ¼ lengths. Owned by Anderson and Ceen Stable, Delightful Kiss has won seven times, including the 2008 All American Stakes (G3) at Golden Gate and the 2007 Ohio and Iowa derbies.
Anderson’s daughter, Aggie Ordonez, took over the horse’s training duties this spring, but Anderson still keeps tabs on his star runner and said he’s doing well heading into the Cougar II.
“He’s training well, he looks good and he’s acting good, and you just hope for the best,” Anderson said. “He got hurt a year and a half ago and was off for 11 months, and he’s been OK since that. This is a ‘Win and You’re In’ race for the Breeders’ Cup, so I’d definitely consider that if we won. I’m going to let this race dictate what I’m going to do.”
Delightful Kiss drew the outside post for the Cougar II and will have David Flores aboard. He’ll carry 115 pounds, seven fewer than the high weight, Richard’s Kid.
With $951,370 in earnings, Richard’s Kid would join Delightful Kiss in the millionaires’ club with a win Friday. He won the Pacific Classic (G1) at Del Mar last September and added a win in the San Antonio Handicap (G2) at Santa Anita in February. The 5-year-old son of Lemon Drop Kid most recently was third behind Awesome Gem in the Hollywood Gold Cup (G1) on July 10.
Richard’s Kid finished second in last year’s edition of the Cougar II, losing to Unusual Suspect by a nose. Richard’s Kid drew the No. 5 post and will have Martin Garcia aboard for trainer Bob Baffert.
Unusual Suspect returns to defend his crown and will break from the No. 3 post under Corey Nakatani. Unusual Suspect has gone winless in 11 starts since last year’s Cougar II but most recently was third in the Sunset Handicap (G3) on the Hollywood Park lawn July 18.
Rounding out the field are Rendezvous, winless in eight starts since capturing the Del Mar Derby (G2) last September; Lifeline, making his stakes debut; Princess Taylor, the runner-up in the Beverly Hills Handicap (G3) on Hollywood’s turf course last month; and Temple City, the runner-up in the American Handicap (G2) on the Hollywood lawn July 4.
Temple City scored a career-best 100 Beyer while losing by a head to Global Hunter in the American. It’s the highest last-race mark for any horse in the Cougar II’s field.
–E-mail Nick Fortuna at nick@wiretowire.net.
– Photo of Florida-bred Delightful Kiss by Adam Coglianese
