Gimmick stretching out in Sorority
The betting public thought Gimmick was the real deal when she debuted May 20 at Churchill Downs, sending the 2-year-old filly off at odds of 1-2. She finished last of seven. On June 25, back in another Churchill maiden race, many were willing to give Gimmick another chance, and while she ran better, she was just third as the 11-10 favorite.
On Aug. 15, in a Saratoga maiden race, Gimmick went off at 12-1, and this time she was ready, running down favored first-time starter Jester Calls Nojoy and posting a two-length maiden win. Rome wasn’t built in a day. Some young horses just need time.
“She ran a very impressive race, looked good going under the wire,” said Steve Asmussen, who trains Gimmick for e Five Racing Thoroughbreds.
Gimmick’s next trick? Try to get a two-turn mile Monday in the $200,000 Sorority Stakes at Monmouth Park. She faces six foes, likely as the favorite again, breaking from post 2 under Gerardo Corrales.
Gimmick is by Into Mischief and out of the Speightstown mare Quick Flip. It’s not a slam-dunk route pedigree: Her fastest sibling is 3-year-old Following Sea, who has run very fast but appears limited to longer one-turn races, at least for now. A slower-paced route race, however, strikes the filly’s trainer as suitable to her talent and temperament.
“Not being in such a hurry and stretching her out looks like the thing to do,” Asmussen said.
Microbiome, who could challenge for favoritism, is the only Sorority entrant to have raced beyond six furlongs, though her longest start only was a half-furlong farther. In that race, the Adirondack on Aug. 8 at Saratoga, Microbiome contested a fast pace and faded to finish fifth.
On July 15, racing on a clear lead while making her career debut in a 5 1/2-furlong Saratoga maiden, she had looked much better, winning by more than five lengths. Microbiome, by Twirling Candy out of Sonja’s Angel, by Smoke Glacken, has the pedigree to at least get a mile. Tom Amoss, who trains the filly for Joel Politi, has a solid record of 2-1-2 from eight 2-year-olds moving from a sprint to a dirt-route stakes.
The five other entrants – Kingdom Queen, Maestria, You Look Cold, Runup, and Jumeirah – all exit maiden victories. Maestria, who won a Delaware Park maiden race on July 24 by more than four lengths, and You Look Cold, a sharp Monmouth sprint debut winner, look best among this quintet.
The Sorority is the last of eight races on Monday, post time is set for 3:52 p.m. Eastern.