Christmas Kid Tries to Unwrap Bonnie Miss Next

Christmas Kid, who has emerged as the 3-year-old filly division leader at Gulfstream Park for trainer Jimmy Jerkens, is the solid choice among eight entered for the $150,000 Bonnie Miss Stakes (gr. II) Saturday.

Edward P. Evans’ homebred daughter of Lemon Drop Kid   captured the Tropical Park Oaks on turf at Calder on New Year’s Day and the Davona Dale Stakes (gr. II) by four lengths going a one-turn mile on Gulfstream's main track on Feb. 10.

The Virginia-bred Christmas Kid previously raced and won middle distance races on turf, but Saturday will be her first two-turn race on the main track.

“It's a lot different than going a one-turn mile,” said Jerkens Thursday morning. “It seems like she has easy speed, and by the same token, it seems like she should be easy to rate. I don't think she's the type that would get rank going that far. She seemed to handle two turns on the turf okay, but it is different and it's a concern.”

The Bonnie Miss, a nine-furlong race that often yields contenders for the richer Ashland Stakes (gr. I) at Keeneland in April and Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) at Churchill Downs to be run this year on May 4.

Jerkens also entered Susan and John Moore's Fee Fi Fo Fum in the Bonnie Miss in what would be just her second career start, but indicated an allowance race on Sunday's card might be where she ends up.

Zayat Stable’s High Again chased Christmas Kid home second in the Davona Dale and appears to have the best chance for an upset with leading rider Cornelio Velasquez in the saddle for trainer Bill Mott. A chestnut daughter of High Yield, High Again was impressive winning a one-mile allowance over the track prior to the Davona Dale.

$150,000 Bonnie Miss Stakes (gr. II, Race 9, 4:54 p.m.), 3-Year-Old Fillies, 1 1/8 Miles
PP. Horse, Weight, Jockey
1. Lisa M (KY), 118,     Manoel R. Cruz
2. High Again (KY), 118, Cornelio H. Velasquez
3. Miss Tizzynow (FL), 118, Rafael Bejarano
4. Fee Fi Fo Fum (KY), 116, Joe Bravo
5. Lost Etiquette (FL), 118, Javier Castellano
6. Christmas Kid (VA), 120, Rene R. Douglas
7. Naseem (MD), 116, G. F. Almeida
8. Swift Temper (KY), 118, Mark Guidry