OZONE PARK, N.Y.— Chalk Racing’s Blame It On Daddy will look to earn black type in Thursday’s 29th renewal of the $125,000 Bertram F. Bongard, a seven-furlong sprint for New York-bred juveniles, at the Belmont at the Big A fall meet.
Trained by Tom Albertrani, the Blame colt made his first two starts sprinting six furlongs at Saratoga Race Course, finishing second to returning rival Donegal Surges in his August 11 debut ahead of a game head score on September 5.
Albertrani said the $90,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase gained valuable experience first out.
“He ran really well the first time,” Albertrani said. “He came down the lane a little green, reluctant to switch leads. You could see in his second start, he was much more focused and stretching out another furlong will definitely help him.”
Out of the Any Given Saturday mare Just Jan, Blame It On Daddy is a half-brother to stakes winner Kowboy Karma.
Luis Saez, who won this event last year with Shipsational, retains the mount from post 2.
Donegal Racing’s Donegal Surges [post 3, Jose Ortiz], by Candy Ride, drew off to a 5 1/2-length score in his aforementioned August 11 maiden win.
Trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, Donegal Surges followed with a distant runner-up effort to well-regarded Andiamo a Firenze in the Funny Cide presented by Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital, contested at 6 1/2-furlongs over a muddy and sealed track on August 26 at the Spa.
Bred by Chester and Mary Broman, the $150,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase, out of the Bernardini mare Solar Surge, is a half-brother to graded stakes-placed Surge of Pride.
Chester and Mary Broman’s homebred Arctic Arrogance [post 4, Jose Lezcano] earned a field-best 76 Beyer Speed Figure in his gate-to-wire debut win in a six-furlong state-bred maiden special weight contested over a muddy and sealed main track on September 5 at the Spa.
Trained by Linda Rice, the Frosted grey is out of the Uncle Mo mare Modest Maven.
Rounding out the field are maidens General Banker [post 1, Jose Gomez] for conditioner James Ferraro and the Orlando Noda-trained Jackson Heights [post 5, Javier Castellano].
The Bertram F. Bongard is slated as Race 3 on Thursday’s nine-race card. First post is 1 p.m. Eastern.
America’s Day at the Races will present live coverage and analysis of every day of Belmont at the Big A on the networks of FOX Sports. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule.
NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Belmont at the Big A, and the best way to bet every race of the fall meet. Available to horse players nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.
By Keith McCalmont – NYRA Press Office
Main photo: Blame It On Daddy breaks his maiden at Saratoga (NYRA/Coglianese)
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