Finally, a suitable spot for Miss A. Bomb

Layoffs of 90 days or more generally mean a horse has come down with some sort of illness or injury. But in some cases, it's just a matter of the trainer not being able to find a suitable race for the horse.

Miss A. Bomb, a two-time stakes winner, fits the latter category. Trainer Phil Sims said he has entered the 5-year-old Miss A. Bomb in a variety of races, only to be disappointed when they didn't fill. Finally, Sims got what he wanted, as Miss A. Bomb will have five opponents as a prime contender Thursday in the $46,920 allowance feature over the Polytrack surface at Arlington Park.

"She really likes Polytrack, so I didn't want to run her on dirt, and she's not really a five-furlong-on-the-turf kind of horse," said Sims, who is based year-round at Keeneland, where the main racing surface is Polytrack. "So we've basically just been sitting here waiting to run."

Miss A. Bomb last raced May 13, when she faltered in an off-the-turf sprint in the Indiana Downs slop.

"Obviously she didn't like the mud," said Sims. "She's way better than that."

From 20 career starts, Miss A. Bomb has won three times: a maiden race, a minor stakes at Turfway Park at 2, and a minor stakes at Presque Isle Downs at 3. Therefore, she fits the third-level allowance condition of the Thursday feature "about as good as you can," said Sims. "I've been wanting to make a three-other-than with her, so we got everything we've asked for. Now she'll have to ship up there and run big."

Miss A. Bomb will break from post 1 in the six-furlong feature when ridden by Jimmy Graham, whose mounts have earned more than $1.8 million at this meet, tops among all jockeys. Among her chief opposition in the seventh of eight races is another layoff horse, the speedy Adorably Dangerous, along with the obvious closer of the group, Ripe Tomato.

From the top, the Thursday card is a good one, as the first race is a $31,500 allowance route restricted to Illinois-bred 3-year-olds and upwards. Ensuing races include a starter-allowance on turf (race 2), an open $35,000-claiming turf sprint (race 4), and an open $35,000-claiming Polytrack sprint (race 5). First post is 1 p.m. Central.