Make Note, Mineralogist tops in N.Y.-bred stakes

Make Note took the short way home while Mineralogist took the long way around, but both routes were successful Sunday in two divisions of stakes for New York-bred juveniles at Belmont Park.

In the $107,000 for colts and geldings, Make Note, who stumbled at the start, shot through an opening along the rail leaving the five-sixteenths pole and then outfinished a stubborn Come From Behind to win by two lengths. Come From Behind, who was part of the early pace from the outset, finished four lengths ahead of City Trooper.

Edgar Prado rode the winner for trainer George Weaver, who also sent out the third-place finisher.

"I think both colts ran well," said Weaver, who trained the winner for Evelyn Pollard's Richlyn Farms. "Make Note is kind of on the lazy side in the mornings, and I was a bit concerned about his last race, when he was ridden as hard as a horse can be ridden for the last three-eighths."

Prado, who won just his second race of the meet from 49 mounts, said that when Make Note shot came through the inside of Come From Behind "he kind of hesitated a little bit, but once he put his head in front he just kept on going."

Make Note, a son of Read the Footnotes, covered seven furlongs in 1:24.45 over a sealed, sloppy main track and returned $21.20 to win.

One Note Samba, the 9-5 favorite, made the lead after a slow start, but then stopped abruptly at the quarter pole.

In the $108,500 , for juvenile fillies, Mineralogist made a three-wide sweep to the lead approaching the quarter pole then cruised home a relatively easy 3 3/4-length winner despite drifting out in the late stages under Kent Desormeaux.

Sugar Trade finished second, 1 3/4 lengths ahead of Raffie s Rose.

Mineralogist, a 2-year-old daughter of Mineshaft owned and bred by Chester and Mary Broman and trained by John Kimmel, ran seven furlongs in 1:25.20 and returned $2.80 as the 2-5 favorite along with entrymate Screen Saviour, who finished last.

Despite the easy victory, Desormeaux felt Mineralogist didn't handle the off going well.

"I think she won on class -- she was slipping a lot," said Desormeaux, who called the track greasy. "Evidently her feet were a little bit big for a greasy track, so she won on class alone today."

Both Make Note and Mineralogist are likely to run again on Oct. 24, New York Showcase Day. Make Note will start in the $100,000 Sleepy Hollow while Mineralogist will run in the $100,000 Maid of the Mist. Both races are run at one mile.

* Rajiv Maragh rode four winners on Sunday's card to take a one-win lead, 15-14, over John Velazquez in the rider standings.