There Was Nothing Shy About Shy Kisser Winning The Miss Ellen Stakes At Will Rogers Downs

CLAREMORE, OK–OCTOBER 13, 2024–Shy Kisser popped into the lead at first call and got up over the wire to win on the inside of the $24,000 Miss Ellen Stakes at Will Rogers Downs on Sunday.

Jockey Gonzalo Gutierrez was named to ride Shy Kisser for the 350-yard race. The daughter of Kiss My Hocks posted her 1/2-length victory in 17.737 seconds with a 91-speed index. The slight upset paid $13.60 to win on 5-1 odds.

Corona Relentless, ridden by Roman Cruz, ran a solid effort for second, defeating post-time favorite Relentless Diamond and Bryan Candanosa by a head.

Today's win is the first victory of the season for Shy Kisser and her first career stakes victory. The $15,738 paycheck boosted her lifetime earnings to $173,533. The five-year-old mare has a record of 4-6-5 from 23 starts.

Shy Kisser placed second in the Speedhorse Futurity [G3], third in the Oklahoma Futurity [G2], FL Lady Bug Stakes [G3], and Laico Bird Stakes [G3] from her freshman campaign and was a finalist in the Speedhorse Derby as a sophomore.

Breeder Paul Tonderum sold Shy Kisser for $19,000 in the 2020 Heritage Place Yearling Sale. She is now owned by Leodardo Aguinaga Soria. She was bred out of the Streakin La Jolla mare Shyann La Jolla in Oklahoma.

Marla Dayana Vargas saddled runner-up Corona Relentless for owner Roberto Zuniga-Rios. The son of champion sire Hes Relentless has lit the board 26 of 36 starts with 12 wins and $180,739 in the bank. Breeders Eddie Cramer and Tom and Bill Maher sold the six-year-old Louisiana-bred gelding for $6,500 in the 2019 Heritage Place Yearling Sale. He's out of Coronas Concierge by Corona Cartel.

Third-place finisher Relentless is trained by Guillermo Valdivia for owner Double G Ranch, LLC. The four-year-old son of Hes Relentless has six wins and $179,048 in earnings. The $18,000 Heritage Place Yearling Sale graduate was bred by Monty McNair in Oklahoma out of Pyc Diamond by Pyc Paint Your Wagon.

Haileys Comet, Otoole Of the Nile, Lil Kool Jessie, Elegant Dynastia and O Seeyalater complete the field. Sheslosthatluvnfeeln was scratched.