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Miracle Should Rebound From Defeat With A Fast Track | 2022 Gimma Stakes Preview & FREE Picks
Miracle (NYRA)
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Miracle Should Rebound From Defeat With A Fast Track | 2022 Gimma Stakes Preview & FREE Picks

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Aaron previews the 2022 Joseph A. Gimma Stakes at Belmont at the Big A, then gives his top picks and longshots. If the forecasted fast track holds, Miracle could be dangerous following her disappointing third-place finish in a sloppy edition of the Seeking the Ante Stakes at Saratoga. Tell us YOUR thoughts in the Comments section!

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The track press release:

WellSpring Stables’ Security Code will look to win her stakes debut in Friday’s $125,000 Joseph A. Gimma, a seven-furlong sprint for New York-bred juvenile fillies, at the Belmont at the Big A fall meet.

Trained by Phil Serpe, Security Code is by Frosted and out of the Montbrook mare Stopspendingmaria, who produced 2020 Joseph A. Gimma-winner No Mo’ Spending [by Uncle Mo].

Security Code debuted in August at Saratoga Race Course in a six-furlong state-bred maiden special weight, finishing second to next-out Seeking the Ante-winner Maple Leaf Mel. She graduated next out on September 2 at the same classification and distance, drawing off by 1 3/4-lengths under Tyler Gaffalione.

Serpe said he was expecting a good effort at second asking.

“We don’t have our horses cranked up first time out and I think she came back

and ran a good race to win her second start,” Serpe said. “I think ultimately she’ll be running long, so I like the idea of the added distance.”

Security Code, bred by Rockridge Stud, Ascendant Farms and Godolphin, breezed a half-mile solo in 51.22 Sunday over the Spa main track.

“She breezed an easy half-mile this morning and will be headed back to Belmont tomorrow. She’s doing well,” Serpe said.

She will exit post 2 under Jose Lezcano.

Lady Mine, trained and co-owned by Jim Chapman with Rolf Obrecht, graduated at third asking in a 5 1/2-furlong state-bred maiden on July 15 at the Spa ahead of a runner-up effort to Maple Leaf Mel over a sloppy and sealed main train on August 26 in the Seeking the Ante.

Chapman said Lady Mine really enjoyed the wet going.

“I think it excites her, the noise and everything,” Chapman said. “She likes horses around her. She likes company. She doesn’t work good alone, so I think she actually liked that.”

Chapman said Lady Mine, who breezed a half-mile in 52.44 Friday over the Belmont dirt training track, will appreciate more distance going forward.

“She couldn’t be doing any better. She had a nice work the other day and is doing great,” Chapman said. “She’s just starting to figure things out. She’s really big for her age. I would think more distance will help her.”

By First Samurai and out of the Dialed In mare Lady Moyne, the Anlyn Farms-bred chestnut was a $4,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase.

Jose Gomez retains the mount from post 4.

WinStar Farm and Siena Farm’s Miracle [post 7, Flavien Prat], a $360,000 OBS March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training purchase, finished third in the Seeking the Ante for trainer Rodolphe Brisset.

The Mendelssohn bay, whose third dam Sheriff’s Deputy produced Hall of Famer Curlin, graduated on debut sprinting six furlongs against fellow state-breds on July 27 at the Spa. Bred by Magnolia Mares and Pony Express Sales, Miracle breezed a half-mile in 50.80 Friday over the WinStar Training Center dirt.

Repole Stable’s Gambling Girl [post 6, Irad Ortiz, Jr.] finished third in Miracle’s maiden score before graduating on her accord on August 24 in a seven-furlong state-bred maiden special weight by 10 1/2-lengths at the Spa.

Trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, the Dialed In bay was purchased for $200,000 at the Fasig-Tipton New York Saratoga Preferred Yearling Sale. Bred in the Empire State by Gallagher’s Stud, she is out of the Empire Maker mare Tulipmania, who is a half-sister to multiple graded stakes-winner Straight Story.

Deuce Greathouse, Cindy Hutson and Brett Seitzer’s Les Bon Temps [post 5, Jose Ortiz] prevailed by a neck in her May debut sprinting five furlongs over a sloppy and sealed main track at Churchill Downs.

The Laoban bay made her next two starts in stakes company, finishing third in the six-furlong Debutante against open company on July 4 at the Louisville oval ahead of a fourth in the Seeking the Ante.

Initially trained by Norm Casse and now in the care of Mike Maker, Les Bon Temps was bred by Southern Equine Stables, and purchased for $65,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale.

Rounding out the field are Finger Lakes maiden winners Small Pebbles [post 1, Nazario Alvarado] for conditioner Linda Dixon; and Warsaichi [post 3, Manny Franco] for trainer Chris Englehart.

The Joseph A. Gimma is slated as Race 8 on Friday’s 9-race card. First post is 2:05 p.m. Eastern.