NYRA/Coglianese Photo

Mentality in winning state of mind in $75K Hessonite

by Ryan Martin

Lindy Farms' Mentality backed up her favoritism and kept a consistent record at Belmont Park intact against five other New York-bred fillies and mares in Friday's $75,000 Hessonite going six furlongs over the Widener turf course.

Piloted by Dylan Davis, the 5-year-old daughter of Freud broke well and sat a close second early on, just to the outside of stakes-winner Kid Is Frosty. Into the far turn, Mentality took command from a rank Kid Is Frosty producing fractions of 22.78 and 46.07 over firm footing.

At the top of the stretch, five-time winner Hannah's Smile confronted Mentality, but the leader dug in and kept her foe at bay drawing off to a 2 ¼-length victory in a time of 1:08.69. Hannah's Smile held second from a late-charging Saratoga Treasure.

Completing the order of finish were Kid Is Frosty, Purrageous Dyna and Jc's Shooting Star. Sadie Lady was scratched.

Mentality, trained by Wesley Ward, has posted all five of her lifetime victories over the Belmont turf. She now boasts an overall record of 15-5-3-3 and a bankroll of $295,934, returning $3.60 for a $2 win bet as the 4-5 favorite.

Mentality arrived at the Hessonite off a runner-up finish against allowance optional claiming company, where she was beaten two lengths to graded stakes placed Dalika.

Davis, who guided Mentality to her last three victories, said his mount was full of run when asked.

"She was laying second or third but she's not really one to be grabbing. I just tried to keep her happy," said Davis. "Irad [Ortiz, Jr. aboard No. 4 Kid Is Frosty] took the lead, but she was not wanting to settle and she inherited the lead. I tried to keep her happy with a long hold and when the horses came up to me on the outside at the quarter pole, she really dug in hard. She ran hard all the way to the wire."

Mentality had been training forwardly heading into Friday's race with two bullet workouts over the inner turf.

"I breezed her the last two times [on the turf] and she gets over it well and is aggressive," Davis said. "Her last workout coming here, she was on edge. She worked very sharp. I loved the way she worked, and she had a lot left. She was ready to run today."

Bred in New York by Joemar Racing Stables, Mentality is out of the Lemon Drop Kid broodmare Lemon Drop's Love.

Live racing resumes Saturday at Belmont with an 11-race card highlighted by four graded stakes events, including the 27th running of the Grade 1, $250,000 Just a Game (Race 10; 6:08 p.m.), the Grade 2, $250,000 New York (Race 8; 5:04 p.m.), the Grade 2, $150,000 True North (Race 9; 5:36 p.m.) and the Grade 3 $100,000 Vagrancy Handicap (Race 7; 4:32 p.m.). First post is 1:15 p.m.