Page 88 - February_2023

Champion Aged Mare
KISS THRU FIRE si 97, $708,025
California Breeders Matron Stakes-G3 Winner, Kiss Thru Fire and Jockey Jesus Ayala reach the finish line 1/2 length ahead.
Breeder: Gentry Farms
Owners: Gentry Farms (Robert Kirk Gentry/ Robbi Force)
Trainer: Juan G. Aleman
Jockeys: Diego Herrera, Ramon Sanchez, Jesus Ayala
2022 Record: 7-4(4)-1(1)-1(1), $187,625
Charger Bar H.-G1, Las Damas H.-G2, California Brds. Matron S.-G3, Abigail Kawananakoa S., 2nd Miss Princess H.-G2, 3rd Denim N Diamonds H., Fnl. Mildred N Vessels Mem. H.-G1.
Kiss Thru Fire has become a Los Alamitos institution. She has spent most of her career at the California track, and she earned her second consecutive Aged Mare Championship by competing there exclusively.
Owner Gentry Farms bred Kiss Thru Fire in Kentucky. Trainer Juan Aleman followed a similar path with the mare in 2022 that he did in 2021, and it proved just as successful. “A lot of the credit goes to Juan Aleman and his team and treating her with the special attention that he has,” said Kirk Gentry at the awards ceremony.
Kiss Thru Fire began 2022 by winning the Charger Bar Handicap-G1 for the second time.
“She’s not breaking on top, but she’s breaking where she’s not getting into trouble,” said Aleman after the Charger Bar.
Kiss Thru Fire then finished third in the Denim N Diamonds Handicap and second in the Miss Princess Handicap-G2.
Kiss Thru Fire next posed in the winner’s circle after the inaugural Abigail Kawananakoa Stakes on June 12. Again, she led throughout, posting a 1 1/2-length margin of victory.
Kiss Thru Fire added another double in the California Breeders’ Matron Stakes-RG3, a race she had taken the year before. Sent away as the 1-5 favorite, Kiss Thru Fire won by an easy 1/2-length.
Aleman and Gentry hoped to qualify Kiss Thru Fire to the Champion of Champions-G1 via the Mildred Vessels Memorial Handicap-G1. But the mare’s head turned at just the wrong time in the starting gate, causing her to lose all chance with a slow start. Still, she managed to finish fourth.
Vindication lay ahead in the Nov. 19 Las Damas Handicap-G2, as Kiss Thru Fire got to keep the Las Damas trophy. The previous year she had finished first, only to get disqualified for interference.
When Gentry accepted Kiss Thru Fire’s 2021 Championship award, he said, “I hope to be on the stage next year.” Kiss Thru Fire made sure he was.
86 SPEEDHORSE February 2023
William Zuazo, Los Alamitos
WALK THRU FIRE
si 92
Bred by: Allred Bros/Vessels Stln Frm
Raced to 4 • $94,280 21-2-2-2
1,332 foals, 91 SW Progeny Earnings: $41,394,000
FIRST DOWN DASH si 105 Bred by: A. F. Stanley Jr./ B.F. Phillips Jr.
Raced to 3 • $857,256 15-13(8)-1(1)-0
2,534 foals, 259 SW Progeny Earnings: $90,116,494
DASH FOR CASH si 114 Bred by: B. F. Phillips Jr. Raced to 4 • $507,689 25-21(9)-3(2)-0
1,368 f, 145 SW • $39,991,197
ROCKET WRANGLER si 97
FIND A BUYER TB
FIRST PRIZE ROSE si 98 Bred by: Gordon H. Wilson Raced to 4 • $22,754 34-6-8(1)-6(1)
7 f., 2 SW • $986,098
GALLANT JET si 102
ROSE BUG si 96
SWEET BEDUINO si 101 Bred by: Avanti Stables Ltd Raced to 3 • $21,824 10-2-2(1)-1(1)
18 foals, 5 SW
Progeny Earnings: $529,434
BEDUINO TB
Bred by: Justo F. Fernandez Raced to 4 • $11,630 13-6-2(1)-0
724 f, 40 SW • $13,153,846
ROMANY ROYAL
JO-ANN-CAT
SWEET GAME si 101 Bred by: Diamond Stables Ltd Raced to 4 • $48,328 13-4(1)-3-2(1)
20 f, 2 SW • $343,117
GAME PLAN si 95
SWEET FEAST si 106
FREDAVILLE
si 112
Bred by: Robert A. Gentry Raced to 6 • $324,696 35-11(7)-8(5)-7(4)
11 foals, 2 SW Progeny Earnings: $965,065
MR JESS PERRY si 113 Bred by: Jesse Perry Raced to 4 • $687,184 21-12(5)-2(1)-0
1,994 f, 160 SW Progeny Earnings: $60,704,344
STREAKIN LA JOLLA si 99 Bred by: B. F. Phillips Jr./Delbert Smith Raced to 3 • $56,227
8-8(1)-0-0
1,537 f, 87 SW • $25,112,496
STREAKIN SIX si 104
BOTTOM’S UP si 82
SCOOPIE FEIN si 99 Bred by: Strole D. G. Dr. & Mrs. Raced to 4 • $15,807 20-6-3-4
8 f, 1 SW • $837,511
SINN FEIN si 98
LEGS LA SCOOP si 95
FEARLESS FREDA si 113 Bred by: Gentry Brothers Raced to 4 • $262,121 25-6(3)-5(2)-6(5)
19 foals, 3 SW Progeny Earnings: $1,154,009
DASH FOR CASH si 114 Bred by: B. F. Phillips Jr. Raced to 4 • $507,689 25-21(9)-3(2)-0
1,368 f, 145 SW • $39,991,197
ROCKET WRANGLER si 97
FIND A BUYER TB
SUCH AN EASY EFFORT si 111 Bred by: Gentry Brothers
Raced to 5 • $496,127 33-14(6)-6(2)-3(2)
18 f, 2 SW • $1,128,912
SPECIAL EFFORT si 104
EASY KISS si 97