Scratched from Whitney, Il Miracolo Seeks Iselin Glory

Scratched from the Aug. 3 Whitney Stakes (G1) in search of calmer waters, Il Miracolo  appears poised for his third career graded stakes title in the Aug. 17 $250,000 Philip H. Iselin Stakes (G3) at Monmouth Park.

Alexandres' Il Miracolo was a game winner of the Ghostzapper Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park two starts back for trainer Antonio Sano. The 4-year-old Gun Runner   colt has been a consistent performer throughout his career, but really shined toward the second half of his 2023 campaign, where he picked up a victory in the Smarty Jones Stakes (G3) and placings in the Pennsylvania Derby (G1), Fayette Stakes (G2), and Clark Stakes (G2). He was third in his most recent outing in the Alysheba Stakes (G2), run over a sloppy track at Churchill Downs on the Kentucky Oaks (G1) undercard.

Partnered with meet-leading jockey Paco Lopez in the 1 1/16-mile Iselin, Il Miracolo exits a string of snappy works at Saratoga Race Course. His latest move, coming only four days before the Iselin, was a :47.95 half-mile Aug. 14.

West Coast shipper Subsanador  is in with 6 pounds less than Il Miracolo. Trained by Richard Mandella for Wathnan Racing, Subsanador was a last-out fourth in the 1 1/4-mile Hollywood Gold Cup Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park. That effort followed a career-best performance in the Santa Anita Handicap (G1), where he controlled the pace throughout before being nailed late by Newgate .

Grade 2 winners Everso Mischievous  and Instant Coffee  ship in for respective trainers Brad Cox and Chad Summers, while Jersey Shore locals Antigravity  and Khozeiress  complete the field.

The Iselin is part of the Breeders' Cup Dirt Dozen Bonus Series, awarding $30,000 to the winner, $15,000 to the runner-up, and $7,500 to the third-place finisher to apply toward entry fees for the $1 million Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile(G1) Nov. 2 at Del Mar.