Bullheaded Boy, Temper Mint Patty headline Belmont juvenile
stakes
Sunday’s card at Belmont Park will be highlighted by a pair
of New York-bred juvenile stakes races — the $150,000
Bertram F. Bongard and
$150,000
Joseph A. Gimma — which will both be contested at seven furlongs on the
main track, and serve as a prelude for the Sleepy Hollow and Maid of the Mist,
to be run on October 18, Empire Showcase Day.
The Bongard will feature a promising collection of New
York-bred two-year-olds, headed by the Todd Pletcher-trained Bullheaded Boy.
Bullheaded Boy, the 9-5 favorite on the morning-line,
debuted over a sloppy track on July 31 at
Saratoga in a five-furlong dash.
The son of Bullsbay prompted the pace that day before edging clear to prevail by
a half-length. The Gary Barber colorbearer made his next start in the Funny Cide Stakes for New York-breds at 6
1/2 furlongs, but was no match for the
talented pair of Upstart and Bustin It and finished third, beaten 9 1/4 lengths.
Bullheaded Boy drew post 5, and Hall of Famer John
Velazquez retains the mount.
Tizquick, trained by John Kimmel for GoldMark Farm, also
had the misfortune of encountering Upstart in his first start. The $50,000
yearling purchase debuted on August 15 at the Spa, and was beaten 5 1/4 lengths in a 5
1/2-furlong affair.
Junior Alvarado will be back aboard Tizquick, who is 5-1 on
the morning-line and drew post 4.
The addition of blinkers helped Saratoga Heater immensely
in his second start, and continued improvement could be possible in the Bongard.
Both of the Temple City colt’s first two starts came over sloppy tracks at
the Spa, but produced starkly different results.
In his debut, Saratoga Heater was beaten 10 lengths by
Bullheaded Boy, but won by 2 1/4 lengths at second asking equipped with blinkers
for the first time.
Previously trained by Al Stall, the bay colt will go out
for Lisa Lewis and be ridden for the first time by Joel Rosario. Saratoga Heater colt sits at 7-2
on the morning-line and drew the rail.
Rounding out the field are Banana Thief, who broke his
maiden by 5 1/2 front-running lengths on turf in his latest start; Market Conduct, a 2
1/2-length maiden victor on August 10 at the Spa; and Chloe’s Wonderboy, who took a $25,000 maiden claimer on August 30 at
Parx Racing.
The Gimma, which is restricted to fillies, is headlined by
impressive debut winner Temper Mint Patty. The Congrats filly broke her maiden
by a neck on August 29 at Saratoga in a gritty performance for
trainer Dale Romans. She tracked a swift pace along the inside that day, was put
to a drive rounding the far turn, and overhauled My Super Nova, who will also
contest the Gimma, in the final jumps.
“I wish they all were as easy to train as her,” Romans said. “She has a lot of talent,
and hopefully will improve off (her debut). She was so professional already, and
she’s just been staying the course since that race. (Seven furlongs) won’t be a
problem for her. She sat behind horses, took dirt, and came running.”
Temper Mint Patty, 4-1 on the morning-line, drew the rail
and will be ridden again by Irad Ortiz Jr.
My Super Nova will represent trainer George Weaver in the Gimma. The daughter of Super Saver dueled through strong
fractions in her unveiling on August 29, but succumbed late to Temper Mint
Patty.
Joel Rosario takes the return call on My Super Nova, 7-2 on
the morning-line, and the pair will depart from post 6.
The Gimma also features stakes winner Myfourchix, 3-1
on the morning-line. The Rick Schosberg-trained bay filly commenced her career with a strong second-place finish on July 30 at
Saratoga. Rather than enter her back in a maiden race, Schosberg decided to take
a shot in the 6 1/2-furlong Seeking the Ante Stakes on August 24 at the Spa and
was rewarded with a three-length victory.
Cornelio Velasquez will again ride Myfourchix, and the duo
drew the outermost post 7.
The field will also be joined by Hard to Stay Notgo, a sharp maiden winner on
August 6 at Saratoga; Evrybdymstgetstonz, runner-up in
the Lady Finger Stakes at Finger Lakes in her most recent outing; and Freudie
Annie and Majestic Bloom, who broke their maidens on turf at first asking.
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