Delaware shipper dominates New York-breds
ELMONT, N.Y. - I'm a Numbers Guy, a debut winner against open company at Delaware Park on Sept. 9, ran the local contingent of New York-bred 2-year-old males off their feet Sunday, galloping to a seven-length victory in the $114,300 Bertram F. Bongard Stakes at Belmont Park.
Bad Boy Rising finished second, 2 1/4 lengths ahead of Solid Strike.
Under Stewart Elliott, I'm a Numbers Guy sat a half- length off of pace-setting Baxter through a half-mile run in 46.27 seconds. I'm a Numbers Guy poked a head in front at the five-sixteenths pole only to see Baxter come back turning for home. But when Elliott called on I'm a Numbers Guy in upper stretch, he quickly opened up a sizeable lead and finished very strong.
I'm a Numbers Guy, a son of City Zip purchased for $225,000 at the Fasig-Tipton 2-year-old-in-training sales at Calder in February, ran seven furlongs in 1:24.41 and returned $6. Tim Ritchey trains I'm a Numbers Guy for Beancounter Stables.
Ritchey said I'm a Numbers Guy would most likely return for the $100,000 Sleepy Hollow Stakes for New York-breds on Oct. 21.
o In the $112,100 Joseph A. Gimma Stakes for New York-bred juvenile fillies, Win With a Wink ran her record to 3 for 3 with a 2 3/4-length victory over 2-1 favorite Laurentide Ice. It was the same margin back to Crosstown Traffic in third.
Win With a Wink, under Fernando Jara, chased the pace of 22.91 and 46.87 seconds established by One Tough Belle. Jara did a nice job of guiding Win With a Wink to the outside of One Tough Belle and easily ran away from Laurentide Ice in the stretch. Win With a Wink covered seven furlongs in 1:25.54 and returned $14.
As a daughter of Dixieland Band out of the mare With a Wink, Win With a Wink is a full sister to Jena Jena, who won this race in 1998. Bill Mott trains Win With a Wink for Live Oak Plantation, who purchased the filly for $400,000 at last August's Fasig-Tipton auction at Saratoga.
Mott said Win With a Wink will likely return in the $100,000 Maid of the Mist Stakes at Belmont on Oct. 21.