Mine Over Matter beats elders in Salute Me Sir

Mine Over Matter, the only 3-year-old in a field of five, rallied past co-favorites Giant Moon and Manteca outside the eighth pole and drew clear to a 3 3/4-length victory in Friday’s $60,000 Salute Me Sir Stakes at Belmont Park.

Giant Moon, who pressed the pacesetting Manteca, held second by 1 1/4 lengths over Naughty New Yorker. Manteca, the actual betting favorite by $3,000 over Giant Moon, was fourth followed by Too Tough Pete, who leapt at the break.

Despite being a son of Mineshaft out of a Hansel mare, Mine Over Matter had raced beyond seven furlongs only once previously in his career. He pressed the pace that day before fading to fifth.

Friday, under Javier Castellano, Mine Over Matter ($21.40) rated kindly on the inside as Manteca and Giant Moon sparred through fractions of 24.61 seconds, 49.08, and 1:13.39 while racing well off the rail.

Castellano took Mine Over Matter off the rail in upper stretch and he closed strongly while covering the 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.31 over a good track.

“He broke so sharp I could have gone to the lead easy today,” Castellano said. “I took a nice hold and I just kept track of the two speed horses in the race. I know they went slow and my horse was in so hand. When I put him outside and asked him, he took off like a rocket.”

Winning trainer Ramon Hernandez said Mine Over Matter had been dealing with physical issues that prevented him from running him longer distances earlier in his career.

Hernandez said he may look at the $200,000 Empire Classic on Oct. 23 for Mine Over Matter’s next start. Mine Over Matter is owned and bred by Chester and Mary Broman.