Grade 3 Autumn: Cool Kiss looks for second straight graded score

Marty Drexler sends out the duo of Cool Kiss and Classic Mo Town in the $150,000 HPIbet Autumn Stakes (G3), Saturday at Woodbine.

The 1 1/8-mile main track event for 3-year-olds and up has drawn 13 starters, including the Drexler pair.

Last time out, at 17-1, Cool Kiss got up in the final jumps to take the $150,000 Durham Cup (G3), a 1 1/16-mile main track feature for 3-year-olds and up, on September 20.

It was the first stakes triumph for the son of Kantharos out of the Philanthropist mare Hot Kiss.

“We were going in there with the knowledge that this horse can really run,” said Drexler, who claimed the dark bay gelding for $40,000 last October on behalf of owners Stephen Chesney and Cory Hoffman. “I said, in the interview after the race, that he can really run and he isn’t limited in distance at all, which was nice knowing that we went into the race with some confidence as far as that goes. And he got a great trip from Sahin Civaci, who is coming back to ride him on Saturday.

“I guess we’ll find out if it [Durham Cup] was for real. Was I a bit surprised? A little, I would say. That morning, we were going over the race and talking about whether it was too tough of a task or if it was worth trying. The horse was ready and we drew the rail, which was beneficial at that time.”

Bred in Ontario by Phoenix Racing, Cool Kiss is 4-4-1 from 23 starts, with $294,449 in purse earnings.

“It’s a big field, but he’s a nice horse,” said Drexler, who is closing in on 900 career wins “He’s a light-framed horse, but he’s got a big heart. He is pretty cool on race day. He can be sharp in the mornings. The first time we raced him this year, he was a little bit over the top – he got a little worked up in the paddock. We took him back and paddock schooled him a few times and he has settled down nicely. He’s pretty confident right now, which means a lot. If they are going over confident and comfortable, they usually act a little more relaxed.”