Another Miracle rallies in Skidmore, becomes American Pharoah’s first North American stakes winner

When Another Miracle rolled to a 1 3/4-length decision in Friday’s $100,000 Skidmore at Saratoga, the Gary Contessa juvenile gave American Pharoah his first stakes victory in North America as a sire.

Like the Triple Crown champion’s other stakes performers so far in Europe, Another Miracle earned his black-type on turf. The American Pharoah colt Maven scored his stakes win in the June 29 Prix du Bois (G3) at Chantilly, while Monarch of Egypt has placed second in the Phoenix (G1) and Railway (G2) at the Curragh, and Saqqara King took third in the Prix Roland de Chambure at ParisLongchamp.

Another Miracle was tackling this surface for the first time. Runner-up to exciting Saratoga Special (G2) winner Green Light Go in their mutual debut at Belmont Park, the bay colt was entered back in a turf sprint maiden July 24 at the Spa. The 5 1/2-furlong dash was rained off the turf, however, and Another Miracle reiterated his dirt proficiency to prevail by 1 1/4 lengths.

Dispatched as the 5-2 second choice in the Skidmore, Another Miracle broke sharply, but 4-5 favorite Montauk Daddy turned on the speed to take command. The front runner opened up through fractions of :21.82 and :44.05 on the firm Mellon course while Another Miracle bided his time in second.

Montauk Daddy began to tire in midstretch, and that’s just when Another Miracle kicked into gear for regular rider Manny Franco. Surging past the favorite, Leonard and Jonathan Green’s runner drew clear to finish 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:01.61.

The 10-1 maiden Proven Strategies headed Montauk Daddy for second, clinching the exacta for co-owner Leonard Green, who campaigns the runner-up in partnership with Aron Yagoda and Empire Racing Club. There was another 3 3/4-length gap back to fourth-placer Memorable.

Like Maven, Another Miracle is eyeing the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Santa Anita. Contessa indicated that the October 6 Indian Summer, a “Win and You’re In” at Keeneland, might be his stepping stone.

Another Miracle was bred by Betz, J. Betz, CHNNHK, Green’s D.J. Stables, Lamantia, CoCo, and Ramsby in Kentucky. Green bought his co-homebred for $210,000 as a Keeneland September yearling, also under the name of D.J. Stable. Out of the Canadian stakes-winning Retraceable, by Medaglia d’Oro, he has bankrolled $120,500 from his 3-2-1-0 record.

Quotes from NYRA

Winning trainer Gary Contessa: “He’s little, but he’s got a big heart in that little body. It probably takes up the most space in his body. He’s just a neat horse. It was very professional for him to let (Montauk Daddy) go and then come back and get him.”

Winning rider Manny Franco: “My horse broke good like always. Once I saw (Jose) Lezcano’s horse (Montauk Daddy) wanted to go, I just let him go. I knew I had horse all the way around. I just waited for the right moment to move, and that’s what I did. He’s talented. He can run on both surfaces.”

Jockey Tyler Gaffalione on runner-up Proven Strategies: “We had a good trip. He’s still a little green; still learning. That was a big race and a huge effort from him. He’s going to keep improving. Once we got it all together, he was finishing nicely and he galloped out well. I’m looking forward to him moving on down the road.”