by Myra Lewyn

Porte Bonheur had something to prove on Sunday at Belmont Park, and after outbattling game runner-up Spritely to prevail in the $150,000 First Flight Handicap (G2) on Sunday at Belmont Park, she convinced her connections to give her a Grade 1 target.

The four-year-old Hennessy filly closed in on multiple stakes winner Spritely in midstretch, then matched strides with that opponent to deep stretch before posting a nose win in the First Flight in her first start at seven furlongs (video).

Porte Bonheur had won half of her ten career starts, all five at six furlongs, prior to the First Flight and pleased trainer David Duggan with her victory, accomplished in 1:22.45 on a track rated as fast.

“This was a legitimate test for her, to see if she could get seven furlongs,” Duggan said. “If she didn’t get the seven furlongs, we’d have to regroup.

“We’ll see how she comes out of the race. The [seven-furlong] Ballerina [Stakes (G1) on August 29 at Saratoga Race Course] has been a main goal for the year, for her to be a [Grade] 1 filly, but she had to get there in the right progression.”

Porte Bonheur had to wait for running room before moving up to gain second, 3¼ lengths behind winner Carolyn’s Cat, in the 6½-furlong Vagrancy Handicap (G2) on May 24 at Belmont in her previous start (video), convincing Duggan she could be competitive at the added distance.

Racing behind a wall of horses nearing the stretch in the First Flight, she found clear sailing at the quarter pole when jockey Ramon Dominguez angled her four wide. She willingly quickened her stride on cue and steadily reeled in Spritely.

Carolyn’s Cat set a swift pace while pressed through a half-mile :45.13 by Sunday Geisha. Spritely raced close to the front-runners while Dominguez positioned Porte Bonheur in fourth along the inside. Spritely seized the lead in early stretch when Carolyn’s Cat tired and opened a one-length lead, but she could not hold off the winner, who scored as the 2-to-1 favorite

Turn Away trailed early, circled the field as she gained ground nearing the stretch, and closed resolutely, but she could not overtake the top pair and finished third, a half-length back.

Bred by in Kentucky by Gainsborough Farm, Porte Bonheur is owned by Johanna Murphy-Leopoldsberger and improved her career bankroll to $413,012 while earning her second graded stakes victory. A half sister to German Group 2 winner Slip Stream, Porte Bonheur is out of the Shadeed mare Sous Entendu and represents the immediate family of champion It’s in the Air.

For an Equibase chart, click here.

Myra Lewyn is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor