Kiss Moon up in time to sip Mint Julep

Kiss Moon (outside) emulated her dam, Kiss the Devil, who landed this race in 2003 for the same connections (Churchill Downs/Reed Palmer)

Carl F. Pollard’s homebred Kiss Moon (Malibu Moon) headed 3-1 favorite I’m Already
Sexy (Ready’s Image) at the wire in Saturday’s $100,000
Mint
Julep H. (G3) at Churchill Downs. Trained by David Vance and ridden by Corey
Lanerie, the 8-1 chance covered 1 1/16 miles on the firm turf in 1:40 4/5 and
returned $19.40. In the process, Kiss Moon emulated her dam, Kiss the Devil
(Kris S.), who won the 2003 Mint Julep for the same owner/trainer tandem.

I’m Already Sexy, who chased in second through an opening quarter in :23,
took over by the half in :46 3/5 and continued to hold sway through fractions of
1:10 4/5 and 1:34 4/5. Just denied late by Kiss Moon, she had 1 1/4 lengths to
spare over third-placer Strike Charmer (Smart Strike). Kitty Wine took fourth,
while Aurelia’s Belle (Lemon Drop Kid) and Keening (Curlin) were fifth and
sixth, respectively, after both having to steady on the far turn.

Kiss Moon’s first graded victory improved her line to 14-5-1-3, $349,596. The
dark bay captured last season’s Ta Wee S. as well as a division of the Hatoof
S., and she also placed in the Fantasy (G3), Honeybee (G3), Regret (G3) and Mrs.
Revere (G2). Her four-year-old campaign opened with a forgettable 11th in the
Churchill Distaff Turf Mile (G2) May 2, but she was much sharper in this second
start off the bench.