Divine Miss Grey may step forward in allowance

Jamyson ‘n Ginger prevailed by three-quarters of a length over Parade when they met in a first-level allowance at Belmont Park in September. The pair will be rematched at a higher level on Thursday at Aqueduct, and they will be joined by the overachieving Divine Miss Grey.

Jamyson ‘n Ginger, a daughter of Bernardini, was making her first start for Juddmonte Farms and Chad Brown following a private purchase when she held off Parade to win a Sept. 10 first-level allowance. Parade, a Phipps Stable homebred by Tapit, has since come back to post a 2 1/2-length win at that level.

Although Jamyson ‘n Ginger was 2-5 and Parade 5-1 last time around, the difference between the two seems a lot closer than that. It would not be a surprise to see Parade turn the tables in this second-level, optional-claiming mile for trainer Shug McGaughey.

While the two well-bred fillies have every right to keep improving, Divine Miss Grey has earned her way to this race the hard way. Claimed for $16,000 at Gulfstream Park in March, she has steadily moved up in class since being turned over to trainer Danny Gargan.

Beginning in May, she rattled off three straight wins at Belmont – a $40,000 claimer, a $50,000 starter race, and finally an allowance race. Gargan and her owner, the Corms Racing Stable, which is managed by Lucas Stritsman, took a shot with her at Saratoga and ran her in the Grade 1 Test, where she finished seventh.

“We’ve been aggressive with her,” Gargan said. “The Test was a rough race. We ran here there because a bunch of the owners are from that area.”

Divine Miss Grey was given a three-week farm vacation after the Test and returned to the races Oct. 9 in a second-level optional claimer going seven furlongs on turf.

She vied for the lead with eventual winner Heavenly Score and finished second, beaten 1 3/4 lengths. Heavenly Score has won two of her last three races.

“It was soft, she got over it okay, but didn’t love it,” Gargan said. “I was actually surprised they left the race on the grass. It was pouring when we were down in the paddock.”

Having had that race, Divine Miss Grey might take a step forward when she returns to the main track Thursday.

“She’s done everything we’ve asked of her, and she got a lot out of that race,” Gargan said. “We’re going back to dirt, but I think her future might be on the grass going longer.”

Divine Miss Grey and Jamyson ‘n Ginger both figure to be forwardly placed early. Parade will likely settle early before mounting a bid.

Girl Talk stumbled at the start while making her first start in six months in late September and can be expected to improve for Kiaran McLaughlin.

Flora Dora will begin another comeback in this race for Marialice Coffey. Flora Dora has raced only once in close to a year. She finished fourth, beaten 3 1/2 lengths, in the Grade 3 Bed o’ Roses in June.