Flying Zee Racing Stables’ Agave Kiss (Lion Heart), freshened since her third-place finish in the Grade 1 Prioress at the Spa on August 4, finished just a neck short of victory in her return to the races as an MTO in Belmont’s Wednesday feature, the rained-off $80,000 open Valor Lady Stakes.
Going one furlong beyond six panels for the first time in her career, and also partnered for the first time by jockey Joe Bravo, Agave Kiss (even money second choice) made use of her trademark early speed to gain the top spot by a comfortable 1 1/2-length margin shortly after the break, and led the field through sharp half-mile in 46 seconds flat over the muddy (sealed) racing surface.
Agave Kiss opened up her advantage at the top of the lane when put to a drive, and maintained her lead until the final seventy yards, when she was overtaken by Belle of the Hall (running for purse money only), who ran last of four early, but ranged up in the turn and settled into her best stride late to get the victory by a neck. After six furlongs in 1:10.30, the final time for the seven-furlong contest was 1:23.55.
Agave Kiss began her career a perfect six-for-six, including victories in the Aqueduct’s Grade 3 Cicada, the Miss Preakness on the Black-Eyed Susan undercard at Pimlico, Ruthless Stakes at Aqueduct and Trevose Stakes at Parx Racing. She also secured a placing in the Grade 1 Prioress. Her record now stands at 6-1-1 from nine starts with $338,400 in earnings.
Bred by Nustar Breeding LLC and foaled at Highcliff Farm in Delanson (now Highcliff at Mill Creek Farm), 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, who also produced multiple stakes placed Luxury Appeal by Johannesburg ($70,960), topped the second phase of last year’s Flying Zee dispersal, when purchased by Blue Devil Racing Stable for $260,000 in foal with a filly by New York sire Cosmonaut. The mare was bred this year to Smart Strike.
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. She has a yearling colt by New York sire Congaree, also bred by Nustar, who sold for $120,000 to Sallusto & Albana at the Fasig-Tipton New York-bred preferred yearling sale in August.
