Shipsational catches Senbei to take Bongard Stakes
Shipsational couldn’t overcome a rough start when finishing fourth behind Senbei in the $200,000 Funny Cide Stakes last month at Saratoga. On Sunday, there were no such issues for Shipsational, who broke well under Luis Saez, chased the pacesetting Senbei, then went on by to score a two-length victory over that rival in the $150,000 Bertram F. Bongard Stakes for New York-breds at Belmont Park.
The race was marred by the fatal breakdown of Happy Happy B, who suffered a catastrophic injury to his right foreleg and fell just before reaching the finish line when it appeared he was going to finish third. Jockey Jose Ortiz was taken off on a stretcher and was later taken to North Shore University Hospital to get his left ankle examined.
Surprise Boss is the official third-place finisher, followed by Whittington Park. Happy Happy B, trained by Robertino Diodoro for Cypress Creek Equine and Arnold Bennewith, was a half-brother to the graded stakes winner Keepeminmind.
Senbei, who won his first two starts and was sent off the 4-5 favorite Sunday, was able to clear the field under Manny Franco and set fractions of 23.04 seconds for the quarter and 46.48 while maintaining a one-length lead over Shipsational. Stalking from the outside, Shipsational got to the flank of Senbei at the top of the lane, took over above the eighth pole and drew away for the victory.
Shipsational, a son of Midshipman owned by Broadway producer Iris Smith and trained by Eddie Barker, covered the seven furlongs in 1:23.64 and returned $6.80 as the second choice.
“It’s hard to do the chasing and get them to win, too,” Barker said. “When he pulled up to him near the quarter pole I knew he was going to go by him. He’s a really nice colt and he trained like it.”
Barker said he would likely point Shipsational to the $250,000 Sleepy Hollow for New York-breds going a mile here on Oct. 30.