Spirit of New York. (Adam Coglianese/NYRA)
By Keith McCalmont
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Michael Dubb, The Elkstone Group, Winners Win and Mark Parkinson’s Spirit of New York staved off a late bid from Black Volt to capture Saturday’s $150,000 Bertram F. Bongard, a six-furlong outer turf sprint for New York-bred 2-year-olds, at Belmont at the Big A.
Trained by Adam Rice and piloted by Manny Franco, the Honest Mischief gelding was returning to state-bred company following a 4 3/4-length third versus open company in the Skidmore on August 16 at Saratoga Race Course.
“He seemed to find his friends,” Rice said. “He was up against it pretty good last time at Saratoga, so maybe New York-bred helped him – three-quarters, big turns here. It was a nice race. They came home in a reasonable fraction I think for going slow, so I’m really happy with it.”
Spirit of New York broke alertly from post 4 but settled into third position as Funny Factor was hustled to the front to mark the opening quarter-mile in 22.50 seconds over the firm footing under pressure from Cristobal.
Funny Factor led the field into the turn with Spirit of New York advancing with a wide run and Black Volt saving ground in fourth. Spirit of New York loomed large at the top of the lane as Funny Factor was swarmed by rivals after a half-mile in 45.25.
Black Volt, angled off the rail by Hall of Famer John Velazquez for the stretch run, found his best stride in the middle of the course and launched a furious rally but could not reel in Spirit of New York, who shook clear in upper stretch and went on to score by a half-length in a final time of 1:08.55.
“This horse was helping me the whole way. I felt like I had horse under me. I was just waiting for the moment to move,” Franco said. “I made my move, and he made the lead. He kind of waited a little bit on horses. As soon as he felt the horse outside of him, he kept on going. He got it done.”
It was 3 1/4-lengths back to Lawyer Mason in third with Funny Factor, Cristobal and Twenty One Red rounding out the order of finish. Three Thirteen, who is entered in a maiden tilt Sunday at the Big A, was scratched.
Spirit of New York was an impressive debut winner in July at the Spa, rallying six-wide to score by 3 1/4-lengths in a 5 1/2-furlong state-bred maiden sprint over firm turf.
Rice said Spirit of New York was fighting fit for his debut but may have needed a bit more preparation at his Presque Isle base for his stakes debut.
“I’ll be honest with you; I think I left him a little short last time. The way he came back and looked after the race and the way he looked today – that’s going back to the drawing board and taking notes of him,” Rice said. “Maybe I made a mistake that he should have been a little more honest. I didn’t think that he was that bad off against open company, but I could have been wrong.
“He’s matured physically and mentally,” Rice added. “I was looking at him in the paddock and I thought he still had a little bit of pudge on him like I didn’t have him tight enough, but maybe that’s how he naturally wants to be. I said prior to his first race that he kind of tightened up and tucked up on me, but maybe I was trying to get to that goal of Saratoga and we laid into him. I picked him up a little more this time, too. Our track played a little better at Presque Isle and helped me out with a little fitness.”
Velazquez said the Kenneth Black-trained Black Volt was simply second best.
“He settled nicely the first part of the race. I tried to follow the eventual winner by sitting inside of him, pulled out, and ran as good as he could,” Velazquez said. “The winner had a little more than me. My horse was kicking on, but it was a little too fast for him, but he ran good, he ran very good.”
Spirit of New York, bred by Magic Oaks Farm, banked $82,500 in victory while improving his record to 3-2-0-1. He returned $6.30 for a $2 win bet as the mutuel favorite. Spirit of New York is out of the Candy Ride mare Unbroken Spirit – a half-sister to stakes-placed Waita Minute Hayes. His third dam is Grade 3-winner Welcome Surprise – a half-sister to Hall of Famer A.P. Indy.
Live racing resumes Sunday at Belmont at the Big A with a nine-race card. First post is 1:10 p.m. Eastern.
