Eskimo Kisses to get season started in Oaklawn's Azeri Stakes

Grade 1 winner Eskimo Kisses will make her 4-year-old debut in the $350,000 Azeri Stakes (G2) for older fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles March 16, trainer Kenny McPeek said.

Eskimo Kisses broke her maiden and was a first-level allowance winner last year at Oaklawn before capturing the $600,000 Alabama Stakes (G1) Aug. 18 at Saratoga. Eskimo Kisses (main track only) was scratched from the grassy $150,000 The Very One Stakes (G3) last Saturday at Gulfstream Park.

“They don’t have a stakes program down here for fillies and mares going two turns,” McPeek said. “It will be good to come back.”

Eskimo Kisses hasn’t started since finishing seventh in the $500,000 Spinster Stakes (G1) Oct. 7 at Keeneland. The Azeri is the final major local prep for the $750,000 Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) at 1 1/16 miles April 14.

“This is going to tell us whether she deserves to be in the Apple Blossom,” McPeek said. “If she doesn’t run well in the Azeri, then we’ve got a couple of other options.”

McPeek said stablemate Lemniscate may accompany Eskimo Kisses on her trip to Arkansas. Lemniscate broke his maiden by a length in a 1 1/16-mile turf race Sunday at Gulfstream Park and could be wheeled back in the $1 million Rebel Stakes (G2) for 3-year-olds March 16 at 1 1/16 miles. Lemniscate made his first two career starts sprinting on dirt at Gulfstream Park, finishing fourth Jan. 19 and second Feb. 9.

“He’s a good horse,” McPeek said. “He’s a horse that’s fast and he’s been a workmate of Signalman and handled the company real well. Might be one that sneaks in late.”

The McPeek-trained Signalman finished third in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) Nov. 2 at Churchill Downs before winning the $200,000 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) Nov. 24 at Churchill Downs.

Nominations to the Azeri and Rebel close Thursday.