No Mo' Spending wears down Irish Constitution to win Joseph A. Gimma.
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ELMONT, N.Y. - Javier Castellano wanted to take a gradual approach when it came to riding No Mo’ Spending in Thursday’s $100,000 Joseph A. Gimma Stakes for New York-bred juvenile fillies at Belmont Park.
“I don’t want to ask too much early, then she’ll get there and flatten out,” Castellano said.
Castellano, as he did most of the Thursday card, timed it just right on No Mo’ Spending, stalking the pacesetting Irish Constitution from second before finally passing that foe and winning the Joseph A. Gimma by a neck. The victory was one of four on the card for Castellano, a four-time Eclipse Award winner.
No Mo’ Spending, a daughter of Uncle Mo trained by Ian Wilkes, won for the second straight time. The victories have coincided with her getting more distance. She lost twice at 5 1/2 furlongs, then won a 6 1/2-furlong maiden race at Saratoga. The Gimma was seven furlongs.
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“The more distance she gets better,” Castellano said.
Castellano would have liked to have been farther off the pace early. But Irish Constitution, under Manny Franco, flashed her speed to open an uncontested, two-length advantage through an opening quarter in 23.86 seconds.
Castellano cut the margin to a length after a half-mile in 47.75. Irish Constitution was still 1 1/2 lengths in front at mid-stretch, but No Mo’ Spending gradually kept coming and ultimately got to the wire first by a neck. It was 4 1/2 lengths back to Chasing Cara, who had her head turned and lunged at the start, costing her early position. Favored Stimulus Check was fourth, followed by Infingement. Mashnee Girl scratched and was re-entered in Sunday’s Grade 2 Miss Grillo Stakes on turf.
No Mo’ Spending covered the seven furlongs in 1:25.08 and returned $6.90 as the third choice.
“At the quarter pole I thought I’m not going to get there, but every time I hit her, she kept digging, she kept responding and she passed the other horse,” Castellano said.
No Mo’ Spending, a $180,000 yearling purchase, is owned by Randy Bloch, David Hall, Jim Gladden’s Genesis Racing, Gene Rice, Michael Steele, and Six Columns Stables.