OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Trainer Wesley Ward makes it well-known that Keeneland is his favorite North American track. With the Breeders’ Cup being conducted there in six weeks, Ward is more than happy to either train his horses at Keeneland or race them in that track’s upcoming stakes to prepare for the Nov. 4-5 event. The lone exception is Kimari. Believing that 5-year-old mare benefits from more time between races, Ward has elected to use Sunday’s Grade 2, $250,000 Gallant Bloom Stakes at Aqueduct rather than Keeneland’s Grade 2, $350,000 Thoroughbred Club of America on Oct. 8 to prepare for the BC Filly and Mare Sprint on Nov. 5. Ward said the TCA “is too close race-to-race for the Breeders’ Cup. This spot came up, and it’s perfect timing from here to the Breeders’ Cup.” On paper, the 6 1/2-furlong Gallant Bloom does look like a perfect spot for Kimari. She drew the outside post in the field of five and figures to be stalking a pace that is likely to be made by Lady Rocket, with Cheetara potentially a pace-presser. Kimari also gets the services of Joel Rosario, who has ridden Kimari to four victories from six rides. “She seems to run very, very well for him,” Ward said. “He takes a little bit of a hold, lets her get into a rhythm, and makes a run.” :: DRF has you covered for the Belmont at the Big A meet! Shop for PPs, Clocker Reports, Picks, Betting Strategies, and more.   Rosario rode Kimari to a half-length victory in the Honorable Miss Handicap on July 27 at Saratoga. She was wide but in the clear throughout and beat Frank’s Rockette by a half-length. Frank’s Rockette came back to win the Pink Ribbon Stakes by six lengths at Charles Town. Amadevil set the pace before finishing last in the Honorable Miss, but bled in that race. She came back to win an Ohio-bred stakes, her eighth victory in 10 starts. Lady Rocket is 7 for 15 in her career, including a nine-length victory in the Grade 3 Go for Wand at Aqueduct in December 2021. Lady Rocket beat Sconsin and Bell’s the One in the Grade 3 Chicago at Churchill Downs in June, but finished sixth in the Grade 1 Ballerina on Aug. 26 at Saratoga. Trainer Brad Cox called the Ballerina “a throw out” race for Lady Rocket. “They got away from her a little bit, she took a lot of dirt and didn’t really respond with the dirt hitting her in the face. She wasn’t able to get out of it,” Cox said. Irad Ortiz Jr., aboard for two of Lady Rocket’s stakes wins, is reunited with the mare, who breaks from the rail. Trainer Robert Falcone Jr. won a 22-way shake to claim Remain Anonymous for $32,000 on July 15 at Saratoga. She came back to win a Pennsylvania-bred stakes by 5 3/4 lengths on Aug. 22 at Parx Racing. Wanting to see his mare come from off the pace Sunday, Falcone said, “hopefully they’re moving up front a little bit for us.” Manny Franco rides from post 2. The 3-year-old New York-bred Sterling Silver is coming off a neck defeat in the Grade 2 Prioress on Sept. 2 at Saratoga. She began her career with two victories at Aqueduct, including the Franklin Square Stakes at the same distance as the Gallant Bloom. Cheetara, a Chilean-bred trained by Ignacio Correas IV, could be one to prompt the pace under Vincent Cheminaud. The Gallant Bloom goes as race 9 on a 10-race card that begins at 1 p.m. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.