Another Miracle Takes to Turf in Skidmore

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY – Leonard and Jonathan Green’s Another Miracle took his first steps onto the lawn on Friday and took off strongly in the stretch to win the $100,000 Skidmore Stakes.

Breaking sharply from post 3 under Manny Franco as the 5/2 second choice, Another Miracle shot past the outside of Proven Strategies to take command down the backstretch, but the 4/5 favorite Montauk Daddy soon stole it away as they neared the far turn. Another Miracle patiently allowed Montauk Daddy to blitz away from him as the opening 1/4-mile went in :21.82.

Off the far turn, Montauk Daddy held a 3-length lead, but Another Miracle tipped out and began to reel him in. Reaching the pacesetter near the 1/16 pole, Another Miracle drove past him in deep stretch and drew clear late.

The Gary Contessa-trained Another Miracle crossed 1 3/4 lengths the best in a final time of 1:01.61 for the 5 1/2-furlong sprint over the firm turf course.

“My horse broke good like always,” Franco said. “Once I saw (Montauk Daddy) wanted to go, I just let him go. I knew I had horse all the way around. I just waited for the right moment to move, and that’s what I did. He’s talented. He can run on both surfaces.”

Proven Strategies rallied from behind Another Miracle to get up past Montauk Daddy at the wire by a head for second. Behind them, Memorable outkicked Now Is to complete the superfecta, with Venerate, Frosted Rose, and River Hawk completing the order of finish.

Another Miracle’s win was his second straight after breaking his maiden in an off-turf 5 1/2-furlong sprint here on July 24. On debut, he finished second to eventual Saratoga Special Stakes (G2) winner Green Light Go. The juvenile son of American Pharoah, purchased for $210,000 last September, has now earned $120,500 and will target October’s Indian Summer Stakes, a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” for the Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1).

“He’s little, but he’s got a big heart in that little body,” Contessa said. “It probably takes up the most space in his body. He’s just a neat horse. It was very professional for him to let (Montauk Daddy) go and then come back and get him.”

Another Miracle returned $7.10 to win, $4 to place, and $2.90 to show. Proven Strategies brought back $7.60 to place and $3.80 to show, while Montauk Daddy paid $2.30 to show.