7th-Belmont The Big A, $90,000, Msw, 6-15, 2yo, 5f, :56.97, ft, nose.
MENTEE (c, 2, City of Light–Nonna Bella, by Stay Thirsty), on the 'Insights' radar by virtue of his relationship to full brother, champion juvenile Fierceness, MGISW, $1,703,850, stepped up to lead the field in this unveiling.
The 1-2 favorite cruised along through :22.37 and :44.80 opening splits and had built a noteworthy margin entering the final furlong. Under confident handling, his rider John Velazquez never seemed worried as Colloquial (Vekoma) rapidly closed the gap with a furious late rally, and his charge won the photo by a nose in a track-record time of :56.97.
MENTEE, the 2YO son of @LanesEndFarms stallion City of Light, and full brother to FIERCENESS, just holds on to break his maiden in the seventh race under @ljlmvel for @PletcherRacing. pic.twitter.com/evqw6GAxtF
— NYRA (🌳) (@TheNYRA) June 15, 2024
In addition to the champion, Mentee has a yearling half-sister by Caravaggio and a 2024 half-brother by Uncle Mo. His eldest half-sister Dolce Bella (Uncle Mo) has a 2024 filly by City of Light. Their dam Nonna Bella is a half-sister to GISW Outwork (Uncle Mo) and to MSP Nonna's Boy (Distorted Humor). Through third dam MSW & GSP Holy Bubbette (Holy Bull), this is the female family of MGSW Cairo Prince (Pioneerof the Nile). Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $49,500. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
O/B-Repole Stable, Inc. (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher.
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