Mitts, in his second career start, was placed first by disqualification giving his sire Gretzky the Great his initial winner in a 2-year-old maiden special weight race June 13 at Gulfstream Park.
The bay gelding, owned by Brett McLellan and trained by Heather Smullen, chased Watson, who set the pace with a :22.72 first quarter, followed by a half in :46.68. However, Watson could not keep a straight path and bore out down the stretch, impeding Mitts and jockey Diego Herrera.
Mitts was awarded the victory after a stewards' inquiry and a claim of foul by Herrera on Watson for interference. The final time for the 5 furlongs on the fast dirt track was :59.58, and Mitts paid $12 for the win.
Bred in Florida by Ocala Stud, Joseph O'Farrell III, and David O'Farrell, et al, Mitts is out of the Union Rags daughter Unanimity, who has produced three winners in three starters, including Nooni, who won the 2024 Sorrento Stakes (G3) at Del Mar.
Mitts' third dam Pretty Discreet won the 1995 Alabama Stakes (G1), while his granddam is a half sister to grade 1 winners Discreet Cat and Discreetly Mine.
Mitts was sold to Smullen for $15,000 by consignor Ocala Stud at the Ocala Breeders' Sales March 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale.
Gretzky the Great is an 8-year-old son of Nyquist who was bred by Anderson Farms Ont. and raced by Gary Barber and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners. Trained by Mark Casse, he won the 2020 Summer Stakes (G1T) at Woodbine. He stands for $3,000 at Ocala Stud in Florida.
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