She’s a Mia made her first start on turf a winning one by digging in and holding off rivals to post a half-length victory in a six-furlong Maiden Special Weight at Belmont Park on Saturday, Oct. 16.
The two-year-old Astern filly, who was making just her second career start, became the eighth North American winner for her first-year sire.
She’s a Mia broke alertly and was settled in fifth, well off the pace, through the early stages of the six-furlong contest. The dark bay filly began her rally at the five-sixteenths pole, swinging four-wide at the top of the stretch. She’s a Mia took the lead a furlong from home, then gamely held a late challenge from flanking rivals to post the victory.
She’s a Mia was bred in New York by McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds LLC, and is out of Dear Willa, an unraced half-sister to G2 Comely Stakes winner, Sherine. She’s a Mia hails from the female family of G1 winners She’s a Julie and Bodemeister, along with Graded Stakes winners Untouched Talent (G2) and Parade Queen (G3).
From his first North American crop, Astern is represented by Sail By, winner of the G2 Miss Grillo Stakes and winners Mainstay (G3-placed), Tom’s Beauty, Grael, Brandon’smylawyer and The Arcadian Way.
