Alms to get a break before 3-year-old campaign

DEL MAR, Calif. – Alms will finish her 2-year-old season undefeated.

Saturday, the promising filly won her first start at a mile, and second stakes, in the Grade 3 Jimmy Durante Stakes on turf. The victory left trainer Mike Stidham planning a vacation for Alms in coming months. The long-range goals are the lucrative stakes for 3-year-old fillies in New York through the summer.

“We’re in talks for a slight freshening and get ready for the spring and summer next year,” Stidham said on Sunday from his winter base in New Orleans.

“There isn’t a lot for turf fillies in January and February. We’ll plan a course with high expectations and hope we can make it happen.”

Earlier this year, the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks was worth $1 million in July, the $750,000 Saratoga Oaks was run in August, and the $750,000 Jockey Club Oaks was run in September at Belmont Park. Alms could start in those races in 2020.

Owned by Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin Racing, Alms is unbeaten in three starts. She won her stakes debut in the Grade 3 Matron Stakes at six furlongs at Belmont Park on Oct. 5 and was pre-entered for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Santa Anita on Nov. 1. Alms missed the BC Juvenile Fillies Turf because of an illness diagnosed in late October.

In the Durante, Alms closed from third in a field of 11 to win by 2 3/4 lengths under Paco Lopez, the first of his three graded stakes wins on Saturday.

“That was sweet,” Stidham said. “We have always liked her and thought she was very talented. She was very impressive.”