Aqueduct: Spinit to Winit, Kimmel try to shed bridesmaid status in Thursday feature

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Trainer John Kimmel’s stable has endured a prolonged case of seconditis, as 14 of his last 50 starters since Nov. 13 have been second to one. He has won four races during that time frame.

During Aqueduct’s inner-track meet, which began Dec. 11, Kimmel has eight second-place finishes, with just one victory from 23 starters. Spinit to Winit, second twice in January, will try to change fortunes for herself and Kimmel when she heads a seven-horse field entered in Thursday’s $52,000 first-level allowance feature for New York-bred fillies and mares at six furlongs.

A daughter of Hard Spun owned and bred by Chester and Mary Broman, Spinit to Winit has had a career twice interrupted by knee surgery. The second operation came after she won a maiden race at Belmont last May. She returned to the races Jan. 4 to finish a distant second to Your Time Is Up, who was winning the second of what has become a three-race winning streak.

On Jan. 26, Spinit to Winit was again second, this time to Irish Whisper, who was a front-running winner on a day that produced six gate-to-wire winners on the inner track.

“She had a little traffic problem in that race, but she came on to finish second, like all my horses have run this winter,” Kimmel said by phone from Florida. “I think I’m bringing a horse into the race that’s doing really well. I almost ran her during that period where we didn’t get to train for five days, but I wanted to get her on a regular work pattern, and I think she comes into this fit and really doing quite well.”

Spinit to Winit won her only start on an off track, conditions that could be prevalent since rain – possibly ending as snow – was forecast for Wednesday night into Thursday.

Jose Ortiz rides from post 3.

Like Spinit to Winit, White Crane has suffered from a bout of seconditis, finishing as the runner-up twice as the favorite in a two-week span in February. Trainer Linda Rice said, “I think she’s a smidge better on the grass than she is on the dirt, but hopefully she can eventually win this condition.”

Taylor Rice, Linda’s niece, rides White Crane from post 6.

Kilnockagain was a well-beaten fourth in the same Jan. 26 race in which Spinit to Winit was second. She was making her first start after being claimed by David Jacobson and was bumped hard coming out of the gate. She is 3 for 4 over the inner track.

Irad Ortiz Jr., the leading rider at this meet who returns from a three-day suspension, is named to ride.

Imagine Tomorrow, Start It Up, Little Miss Lupe, and Eurokay by Me complete the field.

Miss Behaviour in Cicada

Miss Behaviour, who won the Grade 2 Matron at Belmont last fall, makes her 3-year-old debut in Saturday’s $100,000 Cicada Stakes at six furlongs.

Miss Behaviour has not run since finishing fifth, beaten 11 3/4 lengths, in the Grade 3 Delta Princess at a mile Nov. 23.

She faces eight rivals, including the Kiaran McLaughlin-trained pair of Mamdooha, the winner of the Ruthless Stakes in January, and Sustainable, the runner-up to Gracer in the Dearly Precious Stakes in February.

Others entered in the Cicada were Jonesin for Jerry, Inspired Say Eye, Go West Marie, Red Minx, Alpaca Fina, and Rock Me Mama.