Cleon Jones a game winner in Bertram F. Bongard

ELMONT, N.Y. – Moonachie was the more highly regarded of the two Jeremiah Englehart-trained horses entered in Friday’s $150,000 Bertram F. Bongard Stakes at Belmont Park. When a poor start compromised his chances, Cleon Jones picked up his teammate by rallying for a head victory over Three Jokers in the stakes race for 2-year-old New York-breds.

Three Jokers, who made all the pace while pressed by the slow-starting Moonachie, held second by a nose over City Man. Moonachie was fourth followed by Theitalianamerican.

The win was the second from four starts for Cleon Jones, a son of Tale of the Cat owned by Al Gold and named after the left fielder from the 1969 World Champion New York Mets baseball team.

Though entered on Sunday, it wasn’t until early Thursday morning that it was decided Cleon Jones would run. Englehart said Gold sent him a text at 2 a.m. that read “Let’s run.” Later that morning, Englehart sent Cleon Jones from Saratoga to Belmont by van.

Englehart’s only instructions to Irad Ortiz Jr. were to try and get Cleon Jones into the clear early on in the race. Cleon Jones appeared to resent dirt being kicked in his face when he finished second to City Man in the Funny Cide Stakes at Saratoga.

Friday, after breaking from post 2, Ortiz was able to guide Cleon Jones into the clear about two to three lengths off the pace while four wide. Three Jokers, under Luis Saez, set the pace, and was pressed by Moonachie, who broke slowly but rushed into contention by Jose Ortiz.

City Man, the even-money favorite under Joel Rosario, was sitting third along the inside. Around the turn, Irad Ortiz Jr. kept Rosario and City Man boxed in.

Turning for home, Moonachie was still pressing Three Jokers while Rosario guided City Man into the three path, just inside of Cleon Jones. Three Jokers put away Moonachie inside the eighth pole, but Cleon Jones kept coming and was able to run Three Jokers down at the wire.

“I had both the favorites inside of me and I wasn’t going too wide,” Ortiz said. “He was traveling perfect. When I asked him he responded really well. Every time I hit, he responded more and more.”

Cleon Jones covered the seven furlongs in 1:22.88 and returned $15.60 as the fourth choice in the field of five.

“I told Irad he’d have to get Cleon into the clear to get his best running, and it seemed like he was able to do that early on in the race,” Englehart said. “Moonachie got a little compromised by the start and maybe coming back just a little quick for me.”

Jose Ortiz said Moonachie was moving around when the stall doors opened and completely missed the break.

Englehart said he may point Cleon Jones to the $250,000 Sleepy Hollow here on Oct. 19. Moonachie, who is by the New York-based stallion Central Banker, may get a freshening and point to the $500,000 Great White Way division of the New York Stallion Stakes at Aqueduct on Dec. 15.