Kerry’s Kiss secured a place in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint with a commanding victory in the $225,000 Princess Rooney (G3) at Gulfstream Park, extending her winning streak to four races. The four-year-old daughter of Vino Rosso travelled strongly throughout the seven-furlong contest before defeating Simply Joking by 1½ lengths, while Just Philly finished another length behind in third.
The Princess Rooney, which was contested for the 40th time, formed part of a 10-race programme at Gulfstream Park. Despite driving rain arriving shortly before post time, Kerry’s Kiss maintained her composure and produced a determined performance over the good track, completing the distance in 1:25.33.
Kerry’s Kiss Continued Saffie Joseph Jr.’s Princess Rooney Dominance
The victory extended an extraordinary run for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr., who had now won the Princess Rooney in four consecutive years. Three Witches began the sequence in 2023, followed by Soul of an Angel in 2024 and Haulin Ice in 2025 before Kerry’s Kiss continued the remarkable streak in 2026.
Joseph watched the race from a hotel room in Lexington, Kentucky, but the result added another significant success to his record in the prestigious Gulfstream contest. The latest triumph also gave Kerry’s Kiss an important opportunity to compete on a larger stage, with her Princess Rooney victory earning her a fees-paid berth in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1), scheduled for October 31 at Keeneland.
Kerry’s Kiss had entered the Princess Rooney in strong form after recording front-running victories in the 6½-furlong Musical Drama and the seven-furlong Sheer Drama at Gulfstream Park. Those performances came after she was privately purchased following an allowance victory at Oaklawn Park.
Her connections had identified one-turn races as a particularly suitable target. Mark Cornett, who helped negotiate the private purchase, explained that Kerry’s Kiss had displayed plenty of speed in longer 1 1/16-mile races at Oaklawn Park but had tended to weaken late. Her subsequent performances over 6½ and seven furlongs showed how effectively she handled the shorter one-turn distances.
That suitability became evident again in the Princess Rooney.
Kerry’s Kiss broke sharply under jockey Edwin Gonzalez and quickly established herself at the front. Simply Joking remained within striking distance, but Kerry’s Kiss continued to travel comfortably through the early stages. The opening quarter-mile was covered in 22.12 seconds, while the half-mile was reached in 44.71 seconds.
Gonzalez later explained that he had been instructed to secure a good position if another runner wanted to challenge for the lead. Instead, Kerry’s Kiss took him forward almost immediately. He allowed her to settle before asking for more around the final turn, and the response was decisive.
Once asked to accelerate, Kerry’s Kiss maintained her advantage and kept Simply Joking at bay through the stretch. The winning margin eventually reached 1½ lengths, with Just Philly securing third and Anakarina finishing fourth. Indy Bay completed the listed order in fifth in the six-horse field.
The Princess Rooney success also strengthened the connection between Kerry’s Kiss and Joseph’s highly successful Gulfstream record. Joseph had previously guided Soul of an Angel to victory in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint in 2024, giving the trainer valuable experience with the championship-level target that now awaited Kerry’s Kiss.
Simply Joking, trained by Michael McCarthy and ridden by Juan Hernandez, finished second after giving the winner a strong challenge. McCarthy had previously captured the Princess Rooney with Ce Ce in 2021 and 2022, with Ce Ce later adding the 2021 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Del Mar.
Kerry’s Kiss produced another front-running performance to win the Princess Rooney at Gulfstream Park, defeating Simply Joking by 1½ lengths in 1:25.33. The victory marked her fourth consecutive success and extended Saffie Joseph Jr.’s remarkable four-year winning streak in the race. The result also earned Kerry’s Kiss a fees-paid berth in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Keeneland on October 31.
For more stories, results, and updates from the world of horse racing, stay tuned to RaceBuzz.