Camejo looks to strike again in Shine Again

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Jose Camejo liked his most recent trip to Saratoga so much that he is making another one next week.

Camejo, who won Wednesday’s Grade 2 Honorable Miss with Minit to Stardom, supplemented Mr. Al’s Gal to next Wednesday’s $100,000 Shine Again Stakes going seven furlongs at Saratoga. The Shine Again, run at seven furlongs, is for fillies and mares who have not won an open stakes this year.

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Mr. Al’s Gal, previously trained by Justin Jeansonne, is a six-time Louisiana-bred stakes winner. Her only win this year came in an allowance race at Delaware Park in her first start for Camejo, who is based primarily at Delaware.

Camejo said Mr. Al’s Gal was nominated to a Louisiana-bred stakes at Louisiana Downs but that race was worth only $50,000 and he didn’t want to ship her from Delaware for that small a purse.

Mr. Al’s Gal was one of six entered in the Shine Again, which like the Honorable Miss can be used as a stepping-stone to the Grade 1 Ballerina here Aug. 24. Mr. Al’s Gal, like Minit to Stardom, is owned by Eveleyn Benoit’s Brittlyn Stable.

The field includes Awestruck, second to Mia Mischief in the Roxelana Stakes last out, as well as Quick Quick Quick, Saguaro Row, Special Relativity, and Talk Veuve to Me.

Meanwhile, Camejo said Minit to Stardom came out of her Honorable Miss victory in good order, but he was noncommittal about bringing her back for the Ballerina.

“I’d like more time,” Camejo said.