Gimma Stakes complicates a tricky pick six sequence

ELMONT, N.Y. – A pick six carryover of $326,010 that includes the $150,000 Joseph A. Gimma Stakes for New York-bred juvenile fillies spices up Wednesday’s card at Belmont Park as racing on this circuit returns to a five-day week.

The pick six was not hit on any of last week’s three programs, and Wednesday’s sequence looks difficult. There are three turf races scheduled in the sequence, and while Wednesday’s forecast looks good, as much as an inch of rain was in the forecast for Tuesday, as remnants of Hurricane Florence touch the Northeast.

A look at the sequence:

Race 4: This first-level New York-bred allowance is scheduled for 1 1/16 miles on the turf. Myhartblongstodady is the stronger half of a Lawrence Goichman-owned entry that includes Ascender. Myhartblongstodady encountered some traffic trouble at the head of the lane when second to repeating winner Jody’s Song in this condition at Saratoga on Aug. 26.

Southern Gal returns from 10-month layoff but ran very well in her debut sprinting here one year ago. Hollywood Cat and Theaterintheround would be others to consider on turf. Unbridledadventure is entered for the main track only, and won in the slop at Saratoga on Aug. 17.

Race 5: Steam Engine and Stop Me If You Can are the two must-uses in this spot.

Steam Engine ran a solid second to Frosted Ice at Saratoga in his debut while finishing eight lengths clear of the rest. He looks like main speed from rail under Joel Rosario. Trainer Brad Cox is 9 for 36 with a $1.81 ROI with 2-year-old second-time starters in dirt sprints.

Stop Me If You Can lost a three-way photo for second with Just Right and Red Zinger, who came back to run 1-2 in their next start. Stop Me If You Can drew nicely on the outside.

Deeper pockets may want to use Grammi Dance, who was very green in his debut but does keep Jose Ortiz, who had ridden Stop Me If You Can last out.

Race 6: Morning Breez, gelded since his last start in June, would probably appreciate if this first-level allowance scheduled for six furlongs on turf was moved to the dirt. He was beaten a neck by Battle Station in a statebred stakes at Aqueduct last winter in the slop.

On turf, New York Song comes off a difficult trip when seventh, beaten just 2 1/4 lengths, at Saratoga. He returns to surface over which he has two wins and a neck loss to stakes-placed Fig Jelly.

Bourbon Currency won his only try sprinting on turf here last fall.

Race 7: If this $35,000 claimer for horses who have not won three races stays on turf, Fuel the Bern would be my single. He got impeded twice in the stretch of a two-turn race at Saratoga and now returns to a one-turn seven-furlong race on a surface over which he has run very well.

If the race is transferred to dirt, main-track-only entrants Potomac and Dooley should be on your tickets.

Race 8: This is a competitive renewal of the Joseph A. Gimma for New York-bred juvenile fillies. Elegant Zip was game in victory in a maiden race on Aug. 15 over Tossup, a highly regarded maiden who was favored in the July 15 Lynbrook as a first-time starter. Maiden Beauty won the Lynbrook over Tossup, and should be used here for the white-hot Gary Contessa.

David Donk has some reservations about the seven-furlong distance of the Gimma for Elegant Zip.

“That would be my only reservation – is there a distance limitation?” Donk said. “But I love how game she was the other day and came back on. Looks like there’s plenty of pace in the race. I don’t have to be the pace. It’ll be a good race to test her at seven-eighths.”

She’s Trouble, third in the Seeking the Ante at Saratoga, is difficult to rely on given her bad gate habits.

Seeking the Ante winner Party Like Grandma heads an uncoupled trio from the barn of Jeremiah Englehart. More Mischief is another contender in a very difficult race to winnow down.

Race 9: This is a bad field of $25,000 maiden claimers going 6 1/2 furlongs on the dirt. Zecha looks like the one to catch. Party in the Sand is perhaps the most likely candidate to catch her.