Kisses will be back at Big M

Stonebridge Kisses, a winner of $598,362, has overcome a career-threatening injury and will be stepping back on the Meadowlands stage for the Breeders Crown Mare Pace.

Back on Feb. 17, while competing in a leg of the Cape & Cutter Series at the Meadowlands, the 6-year-old daughter of Artiscape fell. The mare’s sulky lacerated her left hind stifle, requiring hundreds of stitches.

The mare’s trainer, Mark Ford, knew the injury could end her racing career. Ford and owner Martin Scharf thought about breeding Stonebridge Kisses, but finally decided to see if she could make a comeback.

Indeed, Stonebridge Kisses has already made a very respectable comeback. After winning a qualifier at the Meadowlands on June 22 in 1:53.1, Stonebridge Kisses captured the Mares Open at Mohawk in 1:51.3 on July 7, defeating Invitro. Then on July 15 she paced in 1:50.3 when she finished fourth in the same class at Mohawk.

“Dr. (Patricia) Hogan operated on her twice to clean up the scar tissue, but she’s come back pretty good,” said Ford. “She was all right the other night too (when she finished fourth); the race just didn’t set up very well for her.”

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