Chelsea Durand Photo

Mirai, Filibustin score in New York-bred juvenile stakes

by Jenny Kellner

Heavily favored Mirai remained unbeaten in the $150,000 Bertram F. Bongard and Filibustin went wire-to-wire to upset the $150,000 Joseph A. Gimma, both for 2-year-old New York-breds, on Sunday at Belmont Park.

With Jose Ortiz aboard, Mirai tracked Haul Anchor through an opening quarter-mile in 22.81 seconds before taking over on the turn, and cruised uncontested through the stretch for a two-length win over Pat On the Back and Haul Anchor, who dead-heated for second.

Mirai's winning time for the seven furlongs was 1:23.62 as he added the Bongard to his 3 ½-length maiden victory in August at Saratoga Race Course.

"He's a pretty nice horse," said Chad Brown, who trains the son of Trappe Shot for Robert LaPenta and Madaket Stables. "He debuted nicely and followed up with a win against stakes company in his second start so he's done nothing wrong so far. He's still trying to figure things out. He made the lead and kind of lugged in a little bit, Jose said more from greenness. He's undefeated but still has a couple of things to work on but a really nice horse though."

Sent off at 2-5, Mirai returned $2.80 for a $2 win bet. Purchased for $280,000 in March, he earned $90,000 to increase his bankroll to $133,800.

Horoscope checked in fourth with Calculated Risker completing the order of finish.

In the Joseph A. Gimma for fillies, Jose Lezcano sent Filibustin to the lead right out of the gate and rolled through fractions of 22.69 and 46.60 seconds before opening up through the lane to cross the wire 4 ¾ lengths ahead of favored Tiznow's Smile.

Filibustin's winning time was 1:24.38 for seven furlongs as she notched her second victory in as many starts, having broken her maiden by 8 ¼ lengths on September 4 at Monmouth Park.

"We're very happy, obviously, to have moved from the maiden ranks into the stakes ranks," said winning trainer Gregory Sacco. "There were a couple of stakes winners in the race and you never know if they're going to take the next logical step. You'd like to go in an A-other-than and go through a natural progression but it's hard to pass up a New York-bred stakes. The timing was good off her maiden win at Monmouth. We took a shot today and it all kind of worked out."

Sent off at 11-1, Filibustin returned $24 for a $2 win bet and earned $90,000 for owner Alan R. Cook.

Iron Mizz was third, followed by Bliss to You, Ribbonite, Paz the Bourbon, Code Red, Strawberry Tequila, Christening, About That Base, Ransom Drop, and Twist 'n Shout. Bree's Got Heart was scratched.