Second Chances: She’s a Gemma — ‘We’ve Always Been High on Her and Were Very Excited for That Debut’

[Wandering Eyes]

In this continuing series, TDN's Senior Racing Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of promising maidens to keep on your radar.

Gearing up for a potential debut run at Saratoga last summer, She's a Gemma (f, 3, Nyquist–Florida Fabulous, by High Cotton) posted seven workouts for Hall of Famer Bill Mott at Belmont Park in the spring.

“When she got to Belmont, (Mott) told us–and you don't get a whole lot out of him–that she was one of the nicest 2-year-olds in his barn there,” said CJ Johnsen, who campaigns She's a Gemma in partnership with 14 buddies under his CJ Thoroughbreds banner. “I remember another conversation where he said, 'Man, she's outworking everything I'm throwing at her.'”

Just a couple of weeks later, however, Mott was forced to hit the brakes when She's a Gemma came up a “little ouchy” after working four furlongs in late June. A subsequent X-ray revealed a non-displaced chip in her ankle.

“We did the surgery at (Cornell) Ruffian (Equine Specialists) right there at Belmont and sent her to Fair Hill to rehab,” Johnsen said. “She got back to Bill's (Payson) barn in the middle of November and picked up where she left off. It was all good news from there.”

Good news, indeed.

Off at odds of 6-1 in her 6 1/2-furlong unveiling on the Sam F. Davis Stakes undercard last Saturday, She's a Gemma was off to a slow beginning after getting slammed into by a neighboring rival at the start.

Up against it in seventh through fractions of :22.25 and :45.34 over a Tampa Bay Downs surface playing very kindly to speed, the $175,000 Keeneland September graduate began to make her move on the far turn and was in with a big chance as they straightened for home.

She continued to kick powerfully in the stretch and came up just a head short of the Shug McGaughey-trained firster Cassiar (City of Light) while finishing up in a field-best :30.12.

Both Cassiar and She's a Gemma received matching 82 Beyer Speed Figures.

CASSIAR ($27.60) gets her nose down on time to take the 3rd at @TampaBayDownsFL. Shug McGaughey trains the debuting daughter of City Of Light (@LanesEndFarms). @JOCKEYSMARIN was up!

Play the next: https://t.co/uED0jFYMFd pic.twitter.com/OFyTkL8pGZ

— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) February 8, 2025

“We've always been high on her and were very excited for that debut,” Johnsen said. “With the slower start, that didn't help, and from what I saw that day, everything was front running and winning. The fact that she was able to make up seven or eight lengths shows us a lot.”

Bred in Kentucky by Eden Farm, the daughter of leading sire Nyquist was produced by 'TDN Rising Star' Florida Fabulous, a flashy, front-running winner in her first two career starts for e Five Racing Thoroughbreds and David Fawkes at Gulfstream Park back in 2017.

The well-related Florida-bred is a half-sister to former E. Paul Robsham Stables standouts GSW & GISP Discreet Dancer (Discreet Cat); GSW Travelin Man (Trippi); and SW & GSP Sweet N Discreet (Discreet Cat), the dam of MGSW & GISP Sweet Melania (American Pharoah) and the stakes-winning 'Rising Star' Sweet Rebecca (American Pharoah). This is also the extended female family of Broodmare of the Year Weekend Surprise, dam of the legendary A.P. Indy and Summer Squall.

“She didn't have the typical huge price tag for a Nyquist,” Johnsen said. “But (bloodstock agent) Marette Farrell helps us pick out our horses and she's very good at finding value. We've done very well in that range.”

Johnsen concluded, “I think we're gonna have some fun with her. She came out OK, and everything is good. Bill's confident that she'll be two turns. Whatever he wants to do, we trust him with her.”

The 'Second Chances' Honor Roll is headed by Horse of the Year Cody's Wish (Curlin), fellow two-time Breeders' Cup winner Golden Pal (Uncle Mo) and GISWs A Mo Reay (Uncle Mo), Honor A. P. (Honor Code), Locked (Gun Runner), Paradise Woods (Union Rags) and Speaker's Corner (Street Sense).

Colloquial (Vekoma), profiled in these same pages Dec. 14, followed up with a 'TDN Rising Star' performance for trainer George Weaver at the Big A Feb. 7, good for a crop-leading 106 Beyer Speed Figure.

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