Indian Breeze
-photo courtesy Lone Star Park

(June 23, 2007) - Southern California invader Indian Breeze raced patiently in third before grinding out a half-length win over Seneca Song in Saturday's $50,000 Nevill/Kyocera Stakes at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas.

Ridden by Cliff Berry, who won three races on the day, Indian Breeze, ran five furlongs over a "firm" turf course in :57.00. She paid $6.80, $5.60 and $3.60 as the 2-1 second betting choice. Seneca's Song, who battled for the early lead, held second and returned $12.40 and $6.60. Most Beautiful rallied on the outside for third and paid $6.80.

Tempting Date, the 9-5 favorite under leading rider Ramsey Zimmerman, had a troubled trip and could only manage fourth in the field of eight fillies and mares. She broke a bit slow, steadied a furlong into the race and lacked racing room along the inside rail in the stretch.

The Nevill/Kyocera was Indian Breeze's first race since early December. "[Trainer Adam Kitchingman] told me not to give her too much to do and try to stay close to the pace," Berry said. "She broke well and it was easy to do."

The winner of the 2005 Landaluce Stakes chased leaders Heres a Memory and Seneca Song from third before making a three-wide move on the turn for home. With about 100 yards to the finish, Indian Breeze determinedly caught Seneca Song for her second career stakes win.

"Mr. Kitchingman knows how to get one ready to go off a layoff, and she was ready today," Berry said.

The win was the fifth in nine career starts for Indian Breeze, a 4-year-old daughter of Indian Charlie. The $30,000 winner's share of the purse pushed her career earnings to $180,680 for owner William Peeples of Santa Barbara, Calif.

Before the race, Kitchingman indicated he would use the Nevill/Kyocera as a steppingstone to the $85,000 Daisycutter Handicap at Del Mar, a five-eighths of a mile turf sprint scheduled for Thursday, July 26.

Indian Breeze, who arrived from her California base Thursday, is now perfect in three starts at five furlongs on turf.

She is the second horse not based at Lone Star to have won the Nevill/Kyocera. Louisiana-based Hallowed Dreams won the race in 2001 when it was known as the Miller Lite Stakes.

Live racing resumes at Lone Star Park on with a nine-race Sunday program that begins at 1:35 p.m. CT.