The Manila (Grade 3)- $250.000 Purse
BEL- For Three Year Olds
One Mile on the Turf
July 7, 2023

There was plenty to love about the Grade 3 Manila heading into the race, starting with the new purse for the race, more than double what it had been previously. For Mb Stables, there was a lot more to love after the race as his budding star, Love Of The Derby took home the win in what was a close finish at the wire. It is the first graded stake win for the gelding, but we will need to keep an eye on this one over the next couple months, especially, as this is fifth win in his last six starts. When these Mb Stables horses get on a streak like this, where they keep climbing the ladder while answering the challenges put forth on them, they are very much worth watching. It’s the second win in the Manila for the trainer, as he also won in 2021 with the late Into Pieces. Jockey Mario Gutierrez is also a two-time winner now, with his previous win coming in 2019. Congratulations to them! The time of the win was 1:32.86, which not surprisingly (given the increased purse for the race) is a new stake record! Let’s take a look at it!

(1/4 Mile- :23.23)- Mb Stables horse run 1-2 at the start, with Regulatory being the quickest of them all, but his stablemate and eventual winner of the race, Love Of The Derby, is able to stay within a half-length of him while running to his outside. Runway, trained by Smokey Stover, runs third and is also within a length of the leader. TwinTowersRacing’s American Grandeur is next and takes the lane right behind Regulatory. In the middle of the pack Kentucky Pharoah (Arindel) and Nevada Lee (Nakamura Stables) run in the outside lanes, then it’s Way To Party (Establo Pichon) and Theegala (Alydar Stables).

(1/2 Mile- :46.42)- Down the backstretch, Love Of The Derby passes his stablemate to take over the lead before they reach the turn. He’s looking good here, as he starts to extend this lead to a full length fairly quickly. Regulatory, who had been leading, is also now falling into the clutches of Runway, who is positioned well on the rail. American Grandeur shifts over to the rail as well, for the turn. Nevada Lee and Kentucky Pharoah are to his outside, then it’s about two lengths to Way To Party, with Theegala being well off the pace.

(Top of Stretch, 1.8F To Go)- Love Of The Derby handles the turn comfortably and is able to move over to the rail as he has been able to clear the field. Runway is now directly behind him, but had not made a push yet, while Regulatory was losing ground. American Grandeur, Nevada Lee, and Kentucky Pharoah are all in the middle of the field, and if they were going to make a move for the stretch, it was time to get moving. Way To Party was lacking response, but Theegala was looking very interested all of the sudden.

(Finish- 1:32.86)- With a furlong to go, it looked like Love Of The Derby had this in the bag, and Mb Stables could start celebrating his win. But then, Nevada Lee started making a push, but even that seemed like it would only be for second. Approaching the wire, it was now looking like just maybe he could pull this off. It was a valiant effort, but Love Of The Derby would be able to hold on and get the win, though much closer than it seemed like it would be. Runway made up some ground late to be third, and the hard charging Theegala gets a fourth-place check. Regulatory tired out in the stretch, but still finishes ahead of Kentucky Pharoah, American Grandeur, and Way To Party.

About The Winner- Love Of The Derby, trained by Mb Stables and ridden to victory by Mario Gutierrez, is a three-year-old gelding by Rob The Derby and is out of No Time For Love. He was bred by Two Hearts One Love as a third quarter two-year-old in California and was acquired by Mb Stables via Jormav for $50.000 this January. Congratulations to the connections! The win is his fifth in seven starts, his second stake win and first graded win. His career earnings are now $274.400.

Track: Firm
Time: :23¹  :46²  1:09²  1:32⁴

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 7 – 4 Paid 37.40
$1 Trifecta: 7 – 4 – 2 Paid 89.80

Scratched: None

— NS

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES