Held Accountable takes well to dirt in Joseph A. Gimma

ELMONT, N.Y. – Held Accountable, a sharp debut winner on turf at Saratoga, proved equally adept on dirt at Belmont Park, overcoming a slight bobble at the break and rallying from off the pace to win Wednesday’s $150,000 Joseph A. Gimma Stakes for New York-bred 2-year-old fillies by 2 1/4 lengths.

Held Accountable, under Luis Saez, outfinished Berning Rose, who was second by 1 1/4 lengths over Newport Breeze, the 7-5 favorite.

Held Accountable is owned and bred by Chester and Mary Broman, who won this race for the fourth time. They previously won it with Beautiful America (2002), Artistic Express (2005) and Mineralogist (2009).

“It’s just another classic Broman-bred, like so many others that you see that they’ve raised,” winning trainer Phil Serpe said. “Good families and really well-made horses.”

Serpe said he debuted Held Accountable on the turf because he had another 2-year-old filly for the Bromans, Under Suspicion, who he wanted to run on dirt in Saratoga. That horse ran second to Berning Rose, who was the second betting choice in the Gimma behind Newport Breeze.

Held Accountable showed good speed in her debut at Saratoga. Wednesday, she bobbled coming out of the gate and was fifth early on, about 3 1/2 lengths off the pace established by 94-1 shot Beaux Arts.

Pauseforthecause, also owned by the Bromans but trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, took over from Beaux Arts approaching the quarter pole and had the lead in upper stretch. At the three-sixteenths pole, Berning Rose, under Kendrick Carmouche, was rallying inside of Pauseforthecause while Held Accountable was rallying outside.

In the final furlong, Held Accountable lengthened her stride and drew clear to the emphatic victory.

Held Accountable, a daughter of Exchange Rate, covered the seven furlongs in 1:25.27 and returned $21.40 as the sixth choice in the field of eight.

“I know she showed some speed on the turf but that’s a maiden race on the turf,” Serpe said. “She ran fast, yes, and I guess the jury’s out on which is going to be her best surface. I never felt on the dirt she was going to show that speed – she’s a nice, long filly and she finishes her works.”

Serpe said that Held Accountable would likely be pointed to the $250,000 Maid of the Mist Stakes going a one-turn mile on dirt here on Oct. 21.