The 21st Running of the G1 Man o War
Saturday, May 13, 2023
BEL Race #4 $600.000
4+ 123 Lbs 13/8 (Turf)
1st: #1 King Que Niagra (D J C Racing Stables/P. Lopez): Away well from the rail to secure a forward position. Was patiently handled around the first bend and down the backside as he held his inside position. Tipped off of the rail with a half-mile to go. Quickly accelerated to split rivals and assume command outside the quarter-pole and was hard-ridden through the wire to prevail for the 2nd year in a row.
2nd: #5 Winter Solstice (Mb Stables/L. Detorri): Broke towards the rear before being caught four-wide with only one horse beaten around the first turn. Inched forward down the backside before swooping five wide around the bend for home. Made a strong rally through the lane from the center of the course, but the wire arrived too soon.
3rd: #7 Dark Arts (TwinTowersRacing/J. Lezcano): Aggressively handled to take the field around the first bend. Set reasonable fractions through three-quarters when he came under some pressure. Was headed outside the quarter-pole but battled bravely to regain the show.
4th: #8 Ptyrannical (Arindel/Mario Gutierrez): Took the first turn four-wide while running third. Ramped-up the pressure from the three-path as they neared the turn. Got by the longtime leader with the winner, but wide trip may have gotten the best of him late.
King Que Niagra has now won 10 of his 35 starts and has amassed $2,406.600 in earnings. This was his 2nd victory in the G1 Man o War, and his fifth G1 overall. Trainer D J C Racing Stables has won three of the last four runnings of the G1 Man o War, the last two with King Que Niagra. Congratulations to both horse and trainer!
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES
