MIRACULOUS MISS (Mr. Greeley) overcame trouble at the start to capture the
$107,200
Valley Stream S. (G3) at Aqueduct on Sunday, advancing her record to a
perfect three-for-three. The Steve Klesaris-trained juvenile displayed poise and
courage that belied her inexperience as she erased a deficit of more than 10
lengths en route to her victory. Final time for the six-furlong affair on the
fast track was 1:11.
Owned by Puglisi Stables and Klesaris, Miraculous Miss hit the gate as she
broke, but she did not let that rattle her as she settled a long-way last in the
five-runner field. On the front end, the 4-5 favorite, India (Hennessy),
scorched through a quarter in :21 3/5 and a half in :44 4/5 while being hounded
every step of the way by Princess Sweet (Precise End). By the time they had sped
five furlongs in a torrid :57 3/5, India and Princess Sweet were exhausted.
Diamond Spirit (Holy Bull) ranged up to challenge, but Miraculous Miss had also
been gathering momentum on the turn and was hitting top gear. Inside the final
furlong, Miraculous Miss forged clear under Ramon Dominguez and crossed the wire
two lengths in front of Diamond Spirit, who stayed on for second, with India
another 1 1/2 lengths back in third. Princess Sweet held fourth, followed by
Sleeping (Forest Camp). Celestial Legend (City Zip) was scratched.
As the nearly 10-1 fourth choice, Miraculous Miss paid $21.20, $6.70, and $3
while spearheading the $98 exacta. Diamond Spirit returned $4.40 and $2.70, with
India giving $2.10. The 3-1-2 trifecta yielded $206.
“I think this was (Miraculous Miss’) best race so far,” Klesaris stated. “She
had a lot of ground to make up, but she’s got a tremendous late kick. She’s a little bit deceiving because she does what she has to do to get by.”
“I like this filly very much,” winning jockey Dominguez said. “I was a little
concerned because she did have a lot to do, but she gives you an honest kick
when you ask her. I think she will be very exciting if she keeps improving.”
Klesaris and Dominguez are understandably looking forward to a bright future
for the filly. Klesaris said he will not race Miraculous Miss again this year,
preferring to formulate plans for her 2006 campaign.
Bred in Kentucky by Dr. Akijiro O’Hara, Miraculous Miss was sold for $350,000
as a juvenile at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Sale and has now accumulated
$113,320 in lifetime earnings. She is out of the winning Silver
Deputy mare No Small Miracle, making her a half-sister to classy sprinter Tiger
Heart (Scatmandu), who just ran second in Saturday’s Frank J. DeFrancis Memorial
Dash S. (G1) at Laurel Park.