Just as her stablemate Manchego did earlier on the card, Kissin In The Sand wrapped up her racing career with an authoritative victory in the $150,000 TVG Mares Final for the tandem of driver Dexter Dunn and trainer Nancy Takter.

Kissin In The Sand steamrolled over foes week after week to finish up her 2020 campaign and ultimately what turned out to be a brilliant career.

Dunn got away third in the early going with the five-year-old daughter of Somebeachsomewhere-Kiss Me Kate while Shartin N shot to the top and sliced out an opening split in :26.3. Kissin In The Sand made a backstretch brush move alongside Shartin N, and they raced as a team past the mid-way point in :53.4.

Kissin In The Sand worked her way to the top, and she continued to lead the way to the three-quarter pole in 1:20.3 while feeling first-over pressure from Shartin N. Kissin In The Sand shrugged off that challenge and used a :27.2 closing quarter to win in going away fashion over stablemate Peaky Sneaky in 1:48. Shartin N rounded out the top three finishers.

Marvin Katz of Toronto, ON shares ownership on the 27-time winner with Hatfield Stables of Columbus, OH. The seasonal record now reads 8-1-0 from 12 assignments for the career winner of $1,855,427.

“She was outstanding tonight,” winning driver Dexter Dunn said. “She’s had an amazing career, she’s an amazing mare, and I was lucky enough to get on for the last four or five starts to enjoy the last run home.

“She kicked in the straight really good,” Dunn continued. “She knows when it’s go time. Once we got the plugs out, she went to another gear and finished off a very strong mile.”

Sent off the 4-5 favourite, Kissin In The Sand paid $3.80 to win.

Kissin In The Sand was bred by Christina Takter, John Fielding, R A W Equine Inc., and Concord Stud Farm. She was a Dan Patch Award winner at age three. Among her wins to close out this season were her first Breeders Crown as well as the Dayton Distaff Derby, Milton Stakes, and Allerage Farms Mare Pace.

“When she was three, I actually took care of her myself because I had a much smaller stable, so I had a very close relationship with her,” trainer Nancy Takter said. “That’s why she’s so special (to me).

“She’s matured so much through the years. She was a pain in the butt to break. I remember four years ago when she came into my barn, I called Marvin Katz and said she’s either going to be great, or she’s going to be terrible. So I’m happy she decided to be great. She was just tough from day one and her performance tonight just shows how tough she really is.”

Kissin In The Sand will be bred to another of Takter’s recently retired stars, Tall Dark Stranger.

“Hopefully, they’re a match made in heaven,” Takter said, adding with a laugh, “I already told Marvin and Bud (Hatfield) that I get to train the first baby.”

The TVG Mares Pace was one of a number of major races on a stakes-packed Saturday card at The Meadowlands. Check out the rest of the recaps in the TVG / Fall Final Four News Centre.

(with files from USTA)