NEWS: RACING

Mirai a perfect two-for-two after Bongard win

Sunday, October 2nd, 2016
NYRA/Joe Labozzetta

NYRA/Joe Labozzetta

By Sarah Mace

In only his second career start, Robert LaPenta and Madaket Stables’ Mirai (Trappe Shot) won a spirited running of the $150,000 Bertram F. Bongard Stakes for New York-bred juveniles at Belmont Park on Sunday. The seven-furlong race was contested over a track labeled “good.”

On August 18 Mirai delivered strong debut performance at Saratoga, stalking his way to an open-length victory at six furlongs. On the strength of that debut, and despite being the most lightly-raced horse in the short field of five, the chestnut colt was tabbed as even money favorite on the morning line. By post time, was hammered down to 2-5.

Drawn in the outside post, Mirai settled in third early, just to the outside of Haul Anchor and Pat On the Back, who hooked up on the front end through a first quarter mile in 22.81.

Before long Pat On the Back took back, and Mirai advanced into direct contention, tackling Haul Anchor and taking over the lead early in the turn as the half ticked off in 45.93.

As Mirai began to edge away in upper stretch, Haul Anchor and a resurgent Pat On the Back made things interesting in the drive, charging for wire with plenty of energy. Mirai kept to business, though, preserved daylight between himself and his rivals and went on to score a two-length victory.

Pat On the Back and Haul Anchor dead-heated for second, while Horoscope and Calculated Risker completed the order of finish. After six furlongs in 1:10.47, the final time for seven panels was 1:23.62. [VIDEO]

NYRA/Adam Coglianese

NYRA/Adam Coglianese

Winning jockey Jose Ortiz said, “I thought [Mirai] was the best horse in the race. I didn’t want to fight him to make him do something that he didn’t want to, so I let him take the lead. In the stretch, he gave me another gear. Any other day, I’d make an earlier move. But I just didn’t want to fight him too much.”

Trainer Chad Brown said, “He’s a pretty nice horse. 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 but a really nice horse though.”

Bred by Eaton & Thorne, Inc. and foaled at Jonathan Thorne’s Thorndale Farm in Millbrook, Mirai is the second winner out of That’s Ok, an unplaced New Jersey-bred mare by Not For Love purchased by Thorne for $12,000 out of the 2008 Keeneland November sale. That’s Ok is a full sister to stakes winner Forever Partners and a half to stakes winner Pal’s Partner.

After selling as a yearling for $55,000 to IBA at the Fasig-Tipton New York-bred preferred yearling sale, Mirai brought $280,000 at the OBS March sale earlier this spring.  From his two victories he has earned $133,800.

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