With the Angels delivers stellar performance in stakes debut

Omaha Beach’s undefeated filly With the Angels cruised to a 9 3/4-length victory in Sunday’s $125,000 Joseph A. Gimma S. at Aqueduct, her second blowout win in as many starts.

With the Angels won her Aug. 22 debut at Saratoga by 11 ½-lengths and was named a TDN Rising Star following that effort. She is the 10th overall stakes winner for Omaha Beach, who as the leading Second-Crop sire of 2024 has eight added-money winners this term.

As the heavy favorite in the seven-furlong Gimma, With the Angels outclassed her competition from the first jumps. She was a measured  1 1/2-lengths in front after a half-mile, then shook clear of the field from there and came home all alone in 1:24.04 on a fast main track to earn a very solid Beyer Speed Figure of 89.

“She was fit and ready to roll [after her debut], I knew when we ran her at Saratoga that it wasn’t a prep, she was going to show up and she was brilliant,” said winning trainer Linda Rice. “She was brilliant in the morning and I had no reservations that it wouldn’t turn out well. She certainly delivered.”

With the Angels is owned by the partnership of Winning Move Stable, John C. Oxley, Lady Sheila Stable, Rideau Racers LLC and Sanford H. Robbins LLC and has earned $118,250 in her two starts. Bred by Joseph DeRico, she sold for $350,000 in April at the OBS Spring 2-year-old sale.

Future plans for With the Angels could mean a leap into Grade 1 company next month.

“Obviously we could’ve passed today and gone straight to the Frizette,” Rice said. “The door is open for the Frizette. We are just going to see how she comes out of it, if she’s eating well, if she’s sharp, that type of thing. We are going to consider the Frizette, but if we decide to back up and go to the Maid of the Mist that is an option as well.”