Bold Union, Dagnabit score

Bold Union established herself as one of the early stars in the juvenile filly division, with an ultra-impressive 9 3/4-length victory in Sunday's $109,500 Astoria Stakes at Belmont Park.

Meanwhile, Mr Mistoffelees could not overcome a stumbling start and finished last behind Dagnabit in the $107,300 Tremont Stakes for 2-year-old males on the same card.

Bold Union, a daughter of Dixie Union, won her debut at Monmouth by 10 3/4 lengths in a walk. Sunday, under Stewart Elliott, Bold Union stalked the pace while racing three wide, took a short lead approaching the quarter pole, and ran away from the field in the stretch. Girlfrienontheside rallied for second, 3 1/2 lengths ahead of Golden Artemis.

Bold Union's time of 1:05.92 for 5 1/2 furlongs was .76 of a second faster than Dagnabit's time of 1:06.68 in the Tremont.

Dagnabit was supplemented to the Tremont on entry day for a $1,000 fee by owners/breeders Lansdon Robbins III and Thomas Hansen. The New York-bred son of Freud was last early, but made a three-wide move around the turn to gain contention before gradually wearing down the pacesetting Regardlesofoutcome to win by a half-length. Regardlesofoutcome was second by nine lengths over Essenceofthemoon.

Dagnabit ($10.80), trained by Richard Dutrow Jr., was coming off a statebred maiden victory June 15.