By Bill Heller
Confidently ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., Michael Dubb, Bethlehem Stables and Michael Imperio’s unbeaten two-year-old filly Bonita Bianca upped her record to two-for-two with an impressive 5 ¼ length victory in the slop in the 20th running of the one-mile $250,000 Maid of the Mist Stakes on Showcase Day at Belmont Park Saturday. Sent off the 6-5 favorite from the outside post in the field of nine, Bonita Bianca won in 1:40.19 on the sloppy track.
“I just let her do her thing,” Ortiz said after the race. “She was a little green in her first start. Today, she’s showed that she has some talent. She’s going to get better going a little longer.”
Bonita Bianca’s new stable-mate Tainted Angel, who was 7-1 under Javier Castellano, held well for second, 11 ¾ lengths ahead of 6-1 Bree’s Got Heart and Angel Arroyo in third. Iron Mizz, the 7-2 second choice on the rail ridden by John Velazquez, finished fourth.
Dormellito Stud bred Bonita Bianca, a daughter of Curlin out of Friendly Michelle by Artax who sold for $97,000 in March and is trained by Rudy Rodriguez, who also trains Tainted Angel after claiming her for Lianna Stables for $40,000 Sept. 15th when she broke her maiden by 2 ¼ lengths at even money.
Bonita Bianca began her career Sept. 22nd at Belmont Park. Sent off at 10-1 under Ortiz, Bonita Bianca won from well off the pace by 2 ¼ lengths.
Ortiz got Bonita Bianca away in fourth on the outside as Tainted Angel had to fight off 6-1 Mo Promise and Jose Lezcano and Iron Mizz to make the front after a first quarter in :23.59. Tainted Angel took the field to a :47.96 half-mile as Ortiz sent Bonita Bianca up on the far outside into second.
Tainted Angel had a half-length lead on Bonita Bianca after three-quarters in 1:15.19, but Bonita Bianca maintained her momentum and took the lead. Then she drew away to win by herself. She has already made $186,000 in two starts.
“She’s been showing us that she could be a nice horse,” Rodriguez said. “We were worried a little bit about the slop. She’s got shins and it can be a little hard on them. She’s a nice, long filly. She’s still learning and she’s much more comfortable on a fast track.”
