Hat Racing has a serious 3-year-old who you might not have known before today. Brian’s Iron Mike, a son of Iron Fist, powered home down the rail to upset Bertie’s Galaxy in the 1st running of the 6-furlong Monte Man Stakes for older Louisiana-breds. It was his first stakes win, and his trainer Allen Landry reports he will look for his second in the Louisiana Champions Day Sprint on Dec 10.

Drawn on the rail to the inside of the .90-1 favorite Bertie’s Galaxy, Brian’s Iron Mike took a hard right out of the gate, bumping that rival and forcing him to revert to off the pace tactics. Scarlettsblackjack seized the opportunity and led the field around the sloppy track in 21.53 and 44.94 seconds through the first two calls. The front half of the field bunched up at the turn, and Brian’s Iron Mike waited for an opening to make his move. First passing Takes Two to Tango who raced in third from go to whoa, Brian’s Iron Mike slid down the rail past Scarlettsblackjack, who held on for second. Winning by 1 3/4 lengths and stopping the clock at 1:10.32, the roan gelding rewarded his $2 backers with $11.60.

“He broke good,” jockey Joe Stokes said. “There was a lot of speed in the race. Coming down the lane it got a little tight but when it opened up, I asked him and he went.”

“Coming off of that long race against Who Took the Money (at Delta Downs), we knew he would be fit,” Allen Landry said. “He shows up every time.”

With a 4-3-2 record 10 races into his career, Brian’s Iron Mike has the form to keep piling on to his $177,500 lifetime earnings.