Strong Mandate got his first North American stakes winner on June 1 when Gotta Be Strong rallied in deep stretch to take the $100,000 New Start S. at Penn National by a half-length.
In no rush out of the gate, Gotta Be Strong was about 10 lengths off the lead as the field of 3-year-old fillies made their way up the backstretch. She closed the gap somewhat around the turn and into the homestretch, then kicked into high gear in the final sixteenth, splitting horses to surge past I’m the Talent for the win (VIDEO).
Gotta Be Strong, owned by Gap View Stables and Jagger Inc., has won three of her past four starts and is now 5-3-1 in 10 lifetime outings, earning $231,090. She was bred by Scott Naylor.
Gotta Be Strong’s dam Gotta Rush won or placed in six stakes.
Strong Mandate has produced 20 individual winners this year and is ranked in the top 10 on the 2019 Second-Crop Sire list.
