Hot to Trot

By Michael Benninger / Photos by John Mireles

It’s the second day of horseracing season where the turf meets the surf - and the first-time meeting for this evening’s blind daters. Chris stands 19 hands high (6’ 4”), and Missy is about 17.5 hands (5’ 10”), making both of them nearly as tall as two jockeys stacked on top of each other. Before this picture-perfecta couple arrives for a glamorous day at the track, replete with a post-race concert by hip-hop hotshots Jurassic 5, let’s review their pre-date interviews.

PacificSD: Where are you from and where do you live now?

MISSY:

I’m from Los Angeles and I live in Pacific Beach.
CHRIS:

I’m from the Bay Area and I live in Mission Beach.
What do you do for a living?

MISSY:

I work at Everyday California as a Brand Manager and am a server at Duck Dive in PB a few nights a week. I work a lot.

CHRIS:

I’m an aerospace system architect. I work on design and architecture of unmanned aerial systems.
What do you do for fun?

MISSY:

I love the ocean, surfing, kayaking, body surfing, running, watch sunsets and being outside as much as possible.

CHRIS:

I like to stay very active. I surf, swim, run, yoga and bike. I also like to cook and go out with friends to San Diego’s local festivals and bars.
What are you looking for in a date, physically and/or otherwise?

MISSY:

I’m not sure; I’m still figuring that out. Height is kind of important to me, because I’m tall.

CHRIS:

I like girls that are in shape, not overly so, but definitely fit. Girls that have an easy and effortless smile, with warm eyes.
Describe your special brand of sex appeal in five words or less.

MISSY:

I love life.

CHRIS:

Tall, dark and handsome.
What do you like least about yourself?

MISSY:

My voice. Hearing it played back kills me.

CHRIS:

My nose and sunspots on skin. Also, at times, I can be impatient and need to be more understanding and compassionate with others.
Rate yourself on a scale from one to 10 for looks.

MISSY:

Haven’t ever done that before and I am not starting today.

CHRIS:

Eight.
Rate yourself on a scale from one to 10 for personality.

MISSY:

Same answer.

CHRIS:

Eight, when you get to know me. Sometimes it takes a minute.
How many people have you slept with?

MISSY:

Does anyone ever answer this?

CHRIS:

A gentleman never tells in a questionnaire... or on a first date.
Fill in the blanks: I want my blind date to be “blank” and “blank.”

MISSY:

Grown-up and internally motivated.

CHRIS:

Fun and hot.
Will the night end with a kiss, something more or something less?

MISSY:

I have no idea.

CHRIS:

Well, I’ll take a kiss, but wouldn’t necessarily be opposed to something more. But then again, that’s entirely up to my date.
What’s the most important thing in the world?

MISSY:

Relationships and people.

CHRIS:

Personal relationships with fellow people.
When their Epic Limo drops them off at the track, Missy and Chris head inside to the new Blue Moon Celebrity Grill. Chris glances at the race program while they talk, and then walks to the betting window to wager on the next race.

INSIDE TRACK
Exclusive access and a lap of luxury

Turf ‘s up for Missy and Chris, whose next stop is a finish-line feast at the Stretch Run Grill. This exclusive section of the grandstand offers cocktail and food service, and great views of the horses thundering across the finish line. The crowd roars as the ponies pass, but Chris’ bet wasn’t a winner.

After their meal, the couple is escorted into the paddock, where they get a behind-the-scenes view of the horses in the winners’ circle. Next, Chris places another bet before he and Missy head down to the “rail” (the fence surrounding the track) to watch the day’s final race.

As the horses round the final turn, thousands of screaming spectators jump to their feet. Go, baby, go! Chris’ horse doesn’t place, but he and Missy win a privileged moment on the finish line, where they pose for selfies before having to dodge an oncoming tractor.

Then, with the summer sun drifting down for the day, the couple is split for mid-date debriefings.

PacificSD: How’s it going so far?

MISSY:

Good. Fun. I came to the track for Opening Day yesterday, and I’m back again today. Chris knows a lot more about horse racing than I do, so that’s kinda cool. Learning something new is always fun.

CHRIS:

She’s super hot and seems pretty mellow and low-key. We have a lot in common, that’s for sure.
What were your first impressions?

MISSY:

He has a job and he’s tall, so that’s good. He’s very nice and he brought me flowers. My first impression was that he’s smart and cool.

CHRIS:

When the limo got to her place, I jumped out of the car and went to her door. She has one of those metal screen doors. I couldn’t quite see through it, but I could see an outline of a tall, leggy blonde, and I was like, ‘Score!’ It was a good impression.
Is this the type of person you’d normally date?

MISSY:

Not sure - I haven’t dated much in the past two years. I’ve been focusing more on work and “me” time.CHRIS:

Yeah, for sure. She’s super athletic, loves water sports and she’s tall.
How was the Blue Moon Celebrity Grill?

MISSY:

The Blue Moon Celebrity Grill is actually a really nice little place, and I love Blue Moon, so that worked out really well.

CHRIS:

It was really cool. They have a great beer selection.
What did you think of the Stretch Run Grill?

MISSY:

Our table was nice. I liked that view quite a bit. Being right there at the finish line was amazing. For food, we just took the waitress’ recommendations, which were good.

CHRIS:

I’ve seen it before, but never actually experienced it. I gotta tell you, it’s pretty awesome getting served food and drinks right there at the finish line. Usually, I’m scrambling around trying to find a drink. Definitely an awesome experience. I made a few bets for myself and Missy; unfortunately they were all losers.
Describe your experience in the paddock and at the finish line.

MISSY:

The Winner’s Circle was really cool. Getting to be so close to the horses, it’s like a whole different world. Horse racing is super foreign to me, so all of this is very exciting. I’m from L.A., and we barely have grass where I grew up, so getting up close to any animals is a real treat.

CHRIS:

I’ve never actually been right at the finish line before. You get a different feeling of how fast, how close the horses actually are. The paddock is another aspect of the track that I’ve definitely walked by, but never got to see it first hand. It was really cool.
What’s the most attractive thing your date has done so far?

MISSY:

Bringing flowers was really cool. He’s polite, which is nice. He’s a nice guy.

CHRIS:

There’ve been so many; it’s hard to tell. I think that after some personal discussion, we just kinda connected. Missy said she felt the same way

-

like we have a bit of connection.
What would your parents say if you brought your date home?

MISSY:

My dad’s 6’ 6”, and everybody in my family is really tall. They’d probably intimidate the hell out of Chris. What my family would think of him would be entirely based on his reaction to meeting them.

CHRIS:

They would be ecstatic. My mom’s tall, my whole family is tall, and they always like tall girls. Plus Missy seems really sweet, and she’s a beautiful girl.
Rate your date on a scale from one to 10 for looks.

MISSY:

Eight.

CHRIS:

Ten.
How about for personality?
MISSY:

Eight.

CHRIS:

Eight.

Do you want to kiss your date now?

MISSY:

No.

CHRIS:

Yes.
Does your date want to kiss you?

MISSY:

Most likely.

CHRIS:

I don’t know.
The last race complete, Missy and Chris walk to the track’s concert area to catch a live performance by Jurassic 5.

HORSING AROUND
The date goes from clip-clop to hip-hop

As six-piece alternative hip-hop group Jurassic 5 takes the stage, and throngs of concertgoers sing along to old-school earworms, the couple is finally set free to enjoy the rest of their evening away from the magazine crew. The next morning, we call to see what we missed.

PacificSD: How was the Jurassic 5 concert?

MISSY:

It was awesome and had a great vibe. The concert definitely gave me flashbacks to high school, and I loved the venue, too. This was my first time seeing a concert at the track, and I will be going back.

CHRIS:

It was mellow and chill, just like J5.
How long did you stay, and what did you do afterward?

MISSY:

We stayed at the concert for an hour, then headed back to PB, where went to Duck Dive for a drink. We chatted there for over an hour. We were the best-dressed people there.

CHRIS:

We spent about an hour there, and after that went out in PB for a little while.
What time did you get home?

MISSY:

Before midnight. I had to work the next day.

CHRIS:

About 11 o’clock.
Was there a kiss or romantic exchange?

MISSY:

Yes, there was a very sneaky kiss. I wasn’t expecting it, and my brother was watching. It was a little awkward, but I give Chris props for going after it. It’s nice to see a guy that can be a gentleman, but still have some grit. I like a real man.

CHRIS:

There was a kiss.
How did the date end?

MISSY:

We ended at my house, because I had to work the next day. Chris dropped me off at home, and we both agreed it was a great night.

CHRIS:

I dropped her off at her house, saw her place, met her brother and some friends who were there. We said goodnight outside, and kissed. We also made tentative plans to hangout again.
What are your date’s best qualities?

MISSY:

He’s smart and has a great sense of humor. He can change a tire, he has a job and can do man sh!t.

CHRIS:

Missy’s very easygoing and not high-maintenance at all. The fact that she’s super active with water sports is a huge plus. And, by the way, she’s also gorgeous.
What’s the funniest thing that happened during the date?

MISSY:

We walked onto the actual track and were checking out the sunset and talking, totally oblivious to the massive tractor steaming our way. Running in heels in dirt is pretty funny.

CHRIS:

Meeting a jockey and both of us feeling like giants since we’re so tall relative to jockeys. We had a good laugh, more about us being Amazons than the jockey being short, of course.
Will there be a second date?

MISSY:

Maybe, we will see. I would hang out with him again.

CHRIS:

I hope so, but we shall see. I think we have a lot in common and could share a lot of fun experiences together. We have personality types that work well together.
AFTERMATCH:

Before the date, Chris said, “I’ll take a kiss,” and it turns out he really meant it. Good thing Missy likes, “

a guy that can be a gentleman, but still have some grit.”

While Chris’ horse wagering didn’t result in a win, his gamble on the “very sneaky kiss” paid off - and a second date sure seems like a safe bet. Giddy up!
THANK YOU!

DEL MAR THOROUGHBRED CLUB
858.755.1141, delmarscene.com

EPIC LIMO
858.270.LIMO (5466), epiclimo.com

BLUE MOON CELEBRITY GRILL
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