Kimmel has a hot weekened

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Nobody held a hotter hand last weekend at Gulfstream than trainer John Kimmel, who sent out a trio of winners from four starters, all going a mile on turf: Mega Fortune ($85.80) and Jerome Avenue ($40.20), both in maiden-special races, and Miss Munnings ($9) in a first-level allowance.

“It’s a good thing, because we were getting kind of parched over here,” Kimmel said with a laugh. “It’s kind of been like the weather in California – drought or flood.”

Kimmel said he will consider waiting on a Keeneland race in April for both maiden winners “because of the huge purses,” while Miss Munnings is a possibility for the Sand Springs on the March 30 Florida Derby undercard.

Miss Munnings ran a mile in 1:34.65. Now a two-time winner here this winter, Miss Munnings “has always been a trier,” Kimmel said.

“But she’s had some bone bruising that’s kept her from her best,” he said. “She’s really come back with a vengeance this time. She went in racehorse time and still had something left. It was really good to see.”

Kimmel said that Pacific Gale, second in the Grade 3 Hurricane Bertie on the Jan. 26 Pegasus undercard, will make her next start here March 16 in the Grade 2 Inside Information at seven furlongs. Also, Mr. Buff, a winner of four straight, all at Aqueduct, will go next in the Grade 2 New Orleans Handicap on the March 23 Louisiana Derby undercard at Fair Grounds.