Up Like Thunder pulls away in Bongard

Up Like Thunder pounced on pace-setting favorite Caribbean Cruiser around the far turn, then left that rival in upper stretch to score a 4 3/4-length victory in the $109,700 Bertram F. Bongard Stakes for New York-bred juveniles at Belmont Park.

Freddy the Cap rallied four wide in the stretch to get second, 2 1/2 lengths ahead of Accurate. Caribbean Cruiser, the 3-5 favorite, was fourth.

Despite being favored in each of his first two starts - recording a win and a second - Up Like Thunder returned $13.40 as the 5-1 third choice. Up Like Thunder is a son of War Chant trained by Nick Zito. Under Javier Castellano, Up Like Thunder ran seven furlongs in 1:24.63.

In the $113,400 Joseph A. Gimma for New York-bred juvenile fillies, Megascape put away an early pace challenge from Swither, then drew clear to a 3 1/4-length victory over Social Virtue. It was a half-length back to Royal Fudge in third.

Trained by Steve Asmussen, Megascape covered seven furlongs in 1:25.83 under John Velazquez. She returned $6.20 as the favorite.

Both Up Like Thunder and Megascape are likely to race again Oct. 23, when Belmont hosts New York Showcase Day with seven stakes for statebreds. Up Like Thunder would run in the Sleepy Hollow, and Megascape would run in the Maid of the Mist. Both $100,000 races are run at one mile.