Mentality sharp in front-running Hessonite victory

ELMONT, N.Y. - Having been aboard Mentality for her two workouts leading up to Friday’s $75,000 Hessonite Stakes at Belmont Park, jockey Dylan Davis was confident the 5-year-old mare was going to give him a top effort.

“Her last work coming here she was on edge, she worked very sharp, I loved the way she worked, she still had a lot left,” Davis said. “She was ready to run today, I knew that for sure.”

Mentality indeed gave a top effort, taking over from Kid Is Frosty about a quarter-mile into the race, then turning back a challenge from Hannah’s Smile to win the Hessonite for New York-bred female sprinters by 2 1/4 lengths. Hannah’s Smile finished second by a neck over Saratoga Treasure.

Kid Is Frosty was fourth, followed by Purrageous Dyna and Jc’s Shooting Star.

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The win was the fifth from 15 starts for Mentality, a 5-year-old daughter of Freud owned by Lindy Farms and trained by Wesley Ward.

Mentality’s two most recent workouts came over a very firm Belmont turf course, the kind she caught Friday afternoon.

“She’s a very fast filly, she holds her ground well, she holds her speed well when it’s firmer,” Davis said.

It looked like Mentality was going to get involved in a pace battle with Kid Is Frosty. Mentality was credited with a half-length advantage after an opening quarter in 22.78 seconds as Irad Ortiz Jr. took a hold of Kid Is Frosty, who was in front soon after the start.

Mentality got away with a second quarter of 23.29 seconds leaving her with something left when Manny Franco came to challenge aboard Hannah’s Smile.

Mentality covered the six furlongs in 1:08.69 and returned $3.60 as the odds-on favorite.

“She inherited the lead on her own,” Davis said. “I was just trying to keep her happy with a long hold, not too much. When horses came up outside of me at the quarter pole she really dug in hard. She just loves competition. She ran well all the way to the wire.”