Page 179 - January 2022

Charger Bar Handicap-G1
KISS THRU FIRE
by Tracy Gantz
Young jockey Diego Herrera had a busy
Jan. 2. He rode in five Thoroughbred
races at Santa Anita, winning one, and then piloted nine at Los Alamitos. The effort was worthwhile, as Herrera scored in his first Grade 1 race aboard Kiss Thru Fire in the $100,000 Charger Bar Handicap-G1.
Herrera was on a true veteran in the Charger Bar. Now 5, the mare was defending her victory in the 2021
Charger Bar, and she became
only the third mare to win
consecutive runnings.
Kiss Thru Fire has had difficulty breaking from
the gate, and while she has improved, she got away in 4th for the 400-yard Charger Bar. She surged to the front for Herrera and won by 1/2-length as the 8-5 favorite, stopping the clock in :19.887, while posting an 89 speed index.
“She’s not breaking on top, but she’s breaking where she’s not getting into trouble,” stated conditioner Juan Aleman, who trains Kiss Thru Fire for Robert Kirk Gentry’s Gentry Farms. “She’s picked up her speed. I’ve never doubted her.”
Kiss Thru Fire was winning her 5th stakes. In addition to last year’s Charger Bar, she
Edwin Escobedo rode Lynnder 16 (Apollitical Jess-Tinys Corona Queen) to 2nd for owners Tom Maher & Richard Tobin and trainer Jason Olmstead. Lynnder 16, now 6, has won 8 stakes.
Dr. Ed Allred’s homebred Roving Kind (Kiddy Up-Escape The Fire) finished 3rd under jockey Victor Salazar for trainer Scott Willoughby. The 4-year-old filly ran 2nd
in the 2021 PCQHRA Breeders Derby-G2, California Breeders’ Debutante Stakes, and La Pacifica Handicap.
Reason To Fly MV (Good Reason SA-Take A Look), Astranomical (Dominyun-Quick Moon Sign), Jess Lyndes Reason (Good Reason SA-Jess Send Me), Leah Carroll (Hes Relentless-Viva La Blue), Fayvorite Chick (Favorite Cartel-Chicks Tell), Suite Expectations (Apollitical Jess-Just A Fairytale), and College Scandal (Coronas Leaving You-Fovee) completed the order of finish.
has captured the
2021 Denim N Diamonds Handicap-G3, California Breeders’ Matron Stakes-RG3, and Sound Dash Handicap. Her placings include a 2nd in the 2020 All American Oaks.
“This mare has a ton of heart,” said Herrera.
Gentry Farms bred Kiss Thru Fire out of Champion Fredaville, full sister to Champion Fredricksburg. She has produced five winners from six starters, including Mexico stakes winner Beer Wagon.
RACING NEWS
Los Alamitos
$100,000 • 400 yards :19.887 • si 89
First Down Dash
Walk Thru Fire
Sweet Beduino
KISS THRU FIRE, ‘17-m.
Mr Jess Perry
Fredaville
Fearless Freda
Auction Dates:
December 9, 2021 December 16, 2021 December 23, 2021 December 30, 2021 January 6, 2022 January 13, 2022 January 20, 2022 January 27, 2022 February 3, 2022
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SPEEDHORSE January 2022 177
Los Alamitos