Girl's Dance Party, Berning Rose intrigue in wide open Joseph A. Gimma

ELMONT, N.Y. – Jeremiah Englehart has already won two stakes this year with his New York-bred juvenile fillies, and on Wednesday he will go deeper down his bench when he sends out Girl’s Dance Party in a seemingly wide-open renewal of the $150,000 Joseph A. Gimma Stakes at Belmont Park.

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The Gimma, scheduled for seven furlongs on the dirt, kicks off a five-day race week during which there is at least one stakes race each day.

So far this year, Englehart has won the Astoria at Belmont with I Still Miss You and the Lady Finger at Finger Lakes with the first-time starter Indy’s Lady.

Girl’s Dance Party won her debut on Aug. 30 at Finger Lakes by 7 1/4 lengths. She was asked to make the lead soon after the start and carried her speed the entire 5 1/2 furlongs.

“We probably could have brought her to Saratoga to run, but we thought that was a good spot for her to get started,” Englehart said. “One thing I like about her is after that race she’s been more aggressive in her training.”

Jose Ortiz picks up the mount on Girl’s Dance Party, who breaks from post 5 in the eight-horse field of New York-bred fillies.

Berning Rose was 10-1 when she won her debut by five lengths going the Gimma distance of seven furlongs at Saratoga. Her trainer, Dominick Schettino, said Berning Rose lived up to how she trained.

“She was training well since she came up from the farm in April,” Schettino said. “She’s very sensible, smart. She does everything right. First time out it’s not easy to win seven-eighths of a mile. She did it pretty easy.”

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Four of the eight runners come out of the Seeking the Ante Stakes at Saratoga. That includes Newport Breeze, the runner-up who was up close stalking, dropped back to next to last entering the far turn, then rallied along the inside to get second.

Jose Ortiz said after the race that Newport Breeze adversely reacted to having dirt kicked back at her. Joel Rosario rides Newport Breeze on Wednesday.

Also coming out of the Seeking the Ante are third-place finisher Miss Mystique, fourth-place finisher Pauseforthecause, and eighth-place finisher Beaux Arts.

There is a chance for a wet track on Wednesday as the forecast calls for the remnants of what is now Tropical Storm Jose to bring rain to Long Island on Tuesday night.

KEY CONTENDERS

Girl’s Dance Party, Desert Party
Beyer: 57

◗ Englehart believes this filly will appreciate more ground, he just hopes she adapts to the Belmont surface.

“Going the extra furlong and a half she should be able to relax a bit more in this race,” he said. “Then you got to worry how she handles Belmont compared to Finger Lakes. There’s a big difference in surface.”

Berning Rose, by Freud
Beyer: 75

◗ Only member of this field to have won at the seven-furlong distance.

◗ Breaks from the rail, from where Kendrick Carmouche will have to send away from the gate to attain position.

Newport Breeze, Majestic Warrior
Last 3 Beyers: 49-60-42

◗ Finished fourth in her debut to Spectator, who came back to win the Sorrento at Del Mar.

◗ Should be able to avoid having any kick-back thrown at her, having drawn post 7 in the eight-horse field.