Adam Coglianese / NYRA Photo

City Man seeks sterling effort in $150K Bertram F. Bongard

by NYRA Press Office

City Man will look to continue his upward trajectory in Friday's $150,000 Bertram F. Bongard, a seven-furlong sprint for New York-bred juveniles at Belmont Park.

Trained by Christophe Clement for owners Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Peter and Patty Searles, the $185,000 April OBS purchase rallied to win by three lengths at first asking on July 18 at Saratoga Race Course in an off-the-turf maiden sprint.

The dark bay Mucho Macho Man colt, bred by Moonstar Farm, showed some pep in his follow-up effort with a prominent 4 3/4-length score over Bongard rival Cleon Jones in the 6 ½-furlong Funny Cide.

"He's a nice horse and has always trained like a nice horse," said Clement. "We're taking it one step at a time with him."

City Man breezed an easy five furlongs on Big Sandy on Saturday in 1:03.03 in preparation for his Belmont debut.

"All went good with his work and we're looking forward to running him in the stakes on Friday. He came out of the work in good shape," said Clement.

Joel Rosario retains the mount from post 4.

Gold Square's Cleon Jones is named for the former New York Mets left fielder, who in 1969 caught the final out of the "Miracle Mets" World Series championship over the Baltimore Orioles.

A $325,000 purchase at the March OBS, the dark bay daughter of Tale of the Cat, bred by Empire Equines, graduated at second asking in a six-furlong maiden sprint at Saratoga on July 28 for trainer Jeremiah Englehart. Last out, Cleon Jones rallied from eighth to complete the Funny Cide exacta.

Irad Ortiz, Jr. will pilot Cleon Jones for the first time from post 2.

Englehart will also saddle August Dawn Farm's Moonachie, who romped to a 10-length score on debut on August 28 in a six-furlong maiden at the Spa. Bred by McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds and Dean Purdom, the Central Banker gelding was purchased for $85,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale.

He will emerge from post 3 with Jose Ortiz.

Gatsas Stables, R. A. Hill Stable and Swick Stable's Three Jokers, trained by John Terranova, was bumped at the break in his August 23 debut at Saratoga, but recovered to lead by a head at the half-mile call en route to a 2 ¾-length score in a six-furlong maiden event.

The Twirling Candy bay, bred by Hibiscus Stable, was also an $85,000 purchase at the Midlantic Sale and is out of the multiple stakes-winning mare Heavenly Humor.

Luis Saez retains the mount from the inside post.

Monty Foss and John Moirano's Theitalianamerican is the field's most experienced runner with four starts, including a second in the Tremont at Belmont against open company and a third in the Rick Violette at Saratoga when taking on fellow New York-breds.

Trained by Gary Contessa, the Girolamo ridgling has demonstrated a dramatic late kick in all four starts and will stretch out to seven furlongs for the first time.

Bred by McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds and Spruce Lane Farm, Theitalianamerican will be piloted by Manny Franco for the first time out of post 5.

The Bertram F. Bongard is slated as Race 3 on Friday's 8-race card. First post is 3 p.m. Eastern.