Trainer Martin Drexler could barely contain his delight as he leaned in to kiss Cool Kiss on the nose after the gelding’s heart-stopping victory in the Grade 3 Durham Cup at Woodbine. Around him, the connections laughed and embraced, savoring the sweet shock of a win that few had seen coming.
Sent off at 17-1, Cool Kiss delivered a perfectly timed rally under a patient Sahin Civaci, snatching the $150,000 feature in the dying strides. For owners Stephen Chesney and Cory Hoffman, the upset was as much about vindication as celebration.
“We took a shot,” Drexler said, grinning wide in the winner’s circle. “This horse just hasn’t had much racing luck. I always thought he could run. From the one-hole today, everything set up perfectly. Sahin did exactly what we talked about, and it all came together.”
A Battle Up Front
The race unfolded with expected fireworks early. Paramount Prince, the 2023 King’s Plate hero, jumped straight to the lead while last year’s Durham Cup winner Dresden Row pressed hard at his flank. Cool Kiss, saving ground from the rail, tucked in third.
The fractions were steady — :24.08 for the opening quarter, :47.59 for the half — as the leaders sparred into the far turn. Civaci bided his time, asking his mount for more only as they straightened for home.
Dresden Row edged ahead of Paramount Prince inside the final furlong, but Cool Kiss was surging three-wide, closing relentlessly. With a last-gasp lunge, he collared Dresden Row by a neck. Paramount Prince held third, 4 ½ lengths back, with Playmea Tune in fourth. The final time for 1 1/16 miles was 1:42.74.
A First Stakes Triumph
For Cool Kiss, a son of Kantharos out of Hot Kiss, the win marked his first stakes success. Claimed by Drexler for $40,000 last October, he had shown flashes of ability but struggled to find racing luck.
“This is just so rewarding,” said co-owner Hoffman. “We knew he had the ability, and Sahin gave him a fantastic ride today.”
Chesney added: “From post one, we told him, stay on the rail. Save ground. That was the plan, and for once he got the trip we always thought he could.”
Bred in Ontario by Phoenix Racing, Cool Kiss improved his record to 4-4-1 from 23 starts and returned $36.90 to his backers.
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