6/10/23
8 BEL The Manhattan (GI) 
$750.000 4yo&Up 1 1/4m InTurf 123lbs
Sod monsters are on tap for The Manhattan (GI) and classic mile and a quarter test on the inner lawn, here at BEL. Throw a dart… probably as worthwhile as trying to pick a winner. I’ll settle in with Aerialist today… I love that win over this surface last out, and look for him to repeat the effort, which should be enough. Another that seems to love the big spotlight is Last Way To The Beac. He is the defending champ, and I’ll give him a shot to repeat.
Here’s The Field –
Two wins and second and a third from five seasonal starts, so he’s been right there in every race, but most of those have come at the Alw level, so this is a major hike. He was third in the Carosel at GP back in Jan… still, he needs his best.
Still looking for his first win of the season, but he has been close in a number of graded affairs including a second in the Elkhorn (GII) at KEE and a third in the Man o War (GI), over this surface, last out. I wouldn’t leave him off of those tri tickets.
The big barn landed another nice one, claiming this guy for $32.000 then won the Muniz (GII) at FG before that fifth-place finish in the Elkhorn (GII). I don’t think the mile and a half is his best distance, so let’s see how this fits him.
He’s still waiting to get his picture taken this year, but he has been second twice including the San Marcos (GIII) at SA and the Forester (GI) at CD. He’s a tough horse and is used to this type of field. Can he get it done today?
The ol’ boy is another looking for his first win of the ’23 but he’s been close in most of his starts this year. That third, only a half-length back, in the Kilmore Mile (GI) proves that he can still run with the best of the best… does he have one CD but one in him?
Let’s do it again… he closed out ’22 with a win in the Clark (GI) at CD but was still searches for his first win this season. He was second in the Diamond (GI) at GP, so his best is still good enough to be part of the festivities.
A second and a third this year, and that closing third in the Ft Marcy (GII) certainly gives hope for this one running big today. That was quick time, and the added eighth should lend to his running style, so keep an eye on him and give him a big chance in this group.
Hey we have a winner… I mean last out, he took the Man o War (GI) here at BEL, and tat was a damp track. He won five of nine last year, so this one certainly knows how and seems to love the Elmont turf, showing a few wins here, and was sixth n this race last year. I like him.
Was the overwhelming favorite in the Elkhorn (GII) at KEE, but tired and only beat one horse in that one. he has a 6-2-2 record from thirteen starts, but until he gets his picture taken vs. the likes of these, I will have to walk on by.
Classy rascal has two wins this season, taking the Pegasus WC Turf (GI) and the Elkhorn (GII) at KEE, two rather big races. He tired to be fourth in the Man o War (GI) so he has to shake that one off, and I think he can do just that.
Fresh off of a win over this course in the Ft Marcy, so he’s certainly a horse that you have to pay attention to today. He was on a streak of bad races, so it was good to see him bounce back, and it will be interesting to see if he keeps it going here.
I’m not sure why this horse is such long odds all the time… he’s always in the picture and always runs in big races. Won the Kilroe Mile (GI) and the Makers Mark Mile (GI), then was fifth here last out in the Man o War (GI). You can’t fool me, put him on all of your tickets.
COZMAN 11 / 4 Willie’s Green Card 12 / 11 / 8
Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES
