City Man Headlines Bertram F. Bongard Field

Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Peter and Patty Searles' City Man will try to maintain a perfect record Sept. 20 when he lines up against four other 2-year-olds in the $150,000 Bertram F. Bongard Stakes, a seven-furlong feature for New York-breds at Belmont Park.

The Mucho Macho Man  colt is listed as the 122-pound highweight off his 4 3/4-length victory in the 6 1/2-furlong Funny Cide Stakes Aug. 23 at Saratoga Race Course. That effort followed a three-length win on debut July 18 at the Spa.

"He's a nice horse and has always trained like a nice horse," trainer Christophe Clement said. "We're taking it one step at a time with him."

City Man last worked Sept. 14, getting five furlongs in 1:03.03 at Belmont.

"All went good with his work and we're looking forward to running him in the stakes on Friday," Clement added. "He came out of the work in good shape."

Gold Square's Cleon Jones, a rallying second in the Funny Cide, will also return in the Bertram F. Bongard. The Tale of the Cat  colt won second time out July 28 going six furlongs at the Spa.

Two debut winners are scheduled to make their second starts. August Dawn Farm's Moonachie was a 10-length winner Aug. 28 going six furlongs at Saratoga, and Gatsas Stables, R. A. Hill Stable, and Swick Stable's Three Jokers won five days earlier at the same track at 5 1/2 furlongs.

The lone maiden in the field is Monty Foss and John Moirano's Theitalianamerican. The Girolamo ridgling was second in the June 7 Tremont Stakes at Belmont in his second outing, third in the July 17 Rick Violette Stakes on a sloppy track at Saratoga, and fourth in the Funny Cide.