Another Miracle switches to dirt for Inaugural Stakes

It could be argued Another Miracle is at his best on dirt despite the fact that the son of American Pharoah is coming off a big third-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint. On Saturday, he’ll get a chance to show off his main-track mettle in the $100,000 Inaugural at Tampa Bay Downs.

The Inaugural, for 2-year-olds at six furlongs, is one of two stakes on the program. The other is the $100,000 Sandpiper, which drew another Breeders’ Cup alum in Two Sixty. The stakes are part of a card comprising races for 2-year-olds.

Another Miracle won his maiden in an off-the-turf sprint July 24 at Saratoga with a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 83. The start came one race after he was second to Green Light Go, eventual winner of the Grade 2 Saratoga Special, in a maiden special weight sprint on Belmont’s main track July 4.

“This horse might be better on the dirt,” said Gary Contessa, who trains Another Miracle for the father-son team of Leonard and Jonathan Green. “His dirt numbers are a hair better. His dirt numbers are very, very good.

“This winter, talking things over with the Greens, we would like to try and find out, ‘Is he a better dirt horse or a better turf horse?’ We already know he’s a stakes winner on turf. This will tell us if we want to move forward on the dirt, maybe stretch out a little bit next time. It will help me with direction with this horse.”

Another Miracle is part of a seven-horse field. Others set to start include Cajun Casanova, a threat to wire his rivals from the rail like he did last out in the $75,000 Hollywood Beach at five furlongs on turf Sept. 28 at Gulfstream.

Another Miracle’s stakes win came in the $100,000 Skidmore at 5 1/2 furlongs on turf at Saratoga on Aug. 16. In the Breeders’ Cup Nov. 1 at Santa Anita, he closed in the stretch and finished 2 1/4 lengths behind winner Four Wheel Drive.

“He had a difficult trip, but he really ran a good race,” Contessa said. “He broke from the gate and got knocked around like a ping-pong ball. He overcame it, got position, and came running. He’s got the heart of a warrior.”

He’s named for one, too. Another Miracle was co-bred by the Greens and named by them for Contessa’s wife, Jennifer.

“I almost lost my wife, Jennifer, last year,” Contessa said. “She spent four months in a clinic in Arizona, from the first week of April until August, with such an advanced lyme disease they weren’t sure if she’d make it. She’s doing very well now.

“Mr Green was very heavily involved in getting her to the clinic and helping with all the bills.”

Another Miracle will break from post 4 under Antonio Gallardo.

Gallardo also has the mount on Two Sixty, who faces seven others in the Sandpiper. The race comes one start after she finished ninth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. She earned a chance at Grade 1 rivals with a dominant win in the $400,000 My Dear Girl division of the Florida Sire Stakes on Sept. 28 at Gulfstream. Mark Casse trains the daughter of Uncaptured for Gary Barber.