Any future star fillies in this year's Gimma?

ELMONT, N.Y. - Some talented 2-year-old New York-bred fillies have won the Joseph A. Gimma Stakes, including future graded stakes winners Dat You Miz Blue and Capeside Lady.

Another future graded stakes winner could be in the field of 12 entered for Sunday's $100,000-added Joseph A. Gimma at Belmont Park.

Unlike Sunday's co-featured Bertram F. Bongard, which features Caribbean Cruiser, the Gimma doesn't have a headliner, but a couple of the runners have done some good things lately.

Swither's 10-length maiden win came in the NATC Sorority at Delaware Park on Sept. 4. She lost her first two starts by a combined margin of 12 1/4 lengths.

Tom Albertrani, who trains Swither for Darley Stable, said the seven-furlong Gimma will be a sterner test.

"The last race was not a tough spot and this seems like a tougher spot," Albertrani said. "For a 2-year-old, she is very mature and focused and aggressive. I think she will improve with a little more distance."

The horse to beat could be the Howie Tesher-trained Brassy Boots, who defeated males in the mud at Saratoga in her last start. Earlier in the Saratoga meet, Brassy Boots finished third in an open-company allowance race behind the Albertrani-trained Balletto, who ran back in the Grade 1 Matron and finished second.

Pelham Bay, undefeated in two starts at Belmont, should be very tough in this spot. She won a 6 1/2-furlong race here by 6 1/2 lengths on Sept. 16.

Balletto preps for Frizette

Balletto worked Friday over Belmont's main track for next Saturday's $500,000 Frizette Stakes for 2-year-old fillies.

Balletto covered a half-mile in 49.86 seconds with exercise rider Darlene Burns aboard.

In the Grade 1 Matron, Balletto's stakes debut and third start, she was beaten a length by the division's leader, Sense of Style, who entered the race off a 6 3/4-length win in the Grade 2 Spinaway at Saratoga.

Sense of Style is expected to run in Friday's Alcibiades at Keeneland to gain experience in a two-turn race.

The Grade 1 Frizette appeals to Albertrani because Balletto, who is owned by Darley Stable, can stay at home and stretch out to 1 1/16 miles.

"[Balletto] has been training extremely well since her last race," Albertrani said after the work. "She's absolutely the picture of health and couldn't be doing any better."

Albertrani said Balletto would probably have another work midweek before the Frizette.

Balletto, who could be the favorite, will face a field that is likely to include J P Jewel, Play With Fire, Ready's Gal, and Sis City.

Filly's career over before it began

Friday, a scary incident involving a 2-year-old filly trained by D. Wayne Lukas apparently ended much better than was originally feared.

Bull Diva, an unraced daughter of Holy Bull, was in the middle of a half-mile work from the starting gate on the main track when she began gushing blood from her nostrils and mouth and veered into the rail and collapsed.

After about 15 minutes, the filly was able to stand and was loaded into the horse ambulance and returned to her barn, where she was treated with antibiotics. She is expected to recover.

Peter Hutton, Lukas's New York assistant, said the filly, who is owned by Kris Jakeman, will be retired.

"I've never seen that happen," Hutton said. "I thought she ruptured her main artery; it must have been some kind of artery. She is such a sensible and classy filly. She just stayed down until she was able to get up. I talked to Wayne and her owner and they said they wouldn't want that to happen to her again, so she will be retired."

Luzzi targets Aqueduct for return

Jockey Mike Luzzi, who is recovering from a broken right leg, is aiming to return to the races for the start of the Aqueduct meet on Oct. 27, according to his agent, Roger Sutton.

Luzzi, who will turn 35 on Oct. 27, broke his leg in the first race run at the Saratoga meet on July 28. Luzzi lost control of his mount, Honey Fritters, going into the clubhouse turn when the reins became detached from the bridle.

The evening of the accident, the rider underwent surgery at Albany Medical Center to place a rod and two screws into his leg. According to Sutton, Luzzi is currently in therapy and has been visiting the jockeys' room at Belmont to ride the Equicizer, which simulates the motion of riding a horse.

It is expected that Luzzi will begin galloping horses in the next two weeks to prepare for his return.

* Two Breeders' Cup contenders, Ghostzapper and Crimson Palace, worked on the main track at Belmont on Friday. Woodward winner Ghostzapper covered five furlongs in 1:00.62, as he prepares for the $4 million Breeders' Cup Classic. Beverly D. winner Crimson Palace, working for the $1 million Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf, went six furlongs in 1:13.64.

* A memorial service for trainer Edward I. Kelly will be held on Friday at 5:30 p.m. in the Turf and Field Club at Belmont Park.