It’s tough to get enough attention when you’re the race immediately preceding the Belmont Stakes. But the grade I Manahattan, at 10 furlongs on the turf, promises to be a tough act to follow.
1. Marsh Side (Gone West-Colonial Play, by Pleasant Colony): Winner of last fall’s Canadian International came home fifth in the Dubai Sheema Classic in March. This is his first start since.
2. Court Vision (Gulch-Weekend Storm, by Storm Bird): Finished third behind Einstein and Cowboy Cal in the Woodford Reserve last time out. He ran well up the track in the 2008 Derby before switching to his preferred surface, and won the grade II Jamacia and grade I Hollywood Derby on the lawn to close out his 3-year-old season.
3. Premium Gold (Mineshaft-Boom Town Girl, by Unbridled): Has been progressing steadily, but in allowance company; won an optional claiming event here last time out. Dam Boom Town Girl was a multiple stakeswinner.
4. Gio Ponti (Tale of the Cat-Chipeta Springs, by Alydar): Won three grass stakes as a 3-year-old last year, including the Hill Prince at Belmont. Cowboy Cal beat him soundly in the Strub, but he returned to win the grade I Kilroe Mile over the likes of Ventura.
5. Champs Elysees (Danehill-Hasili, by Kahyasi): Won last fall’s Hollywood Turf Cup, a grade I. Einstein outran him by a length in the Santa Anita Handicap two starts ago. Comes from a storied family, as he’s a full brother to Breeders’ Cup winners Intercontinental and Banks Hill; multiple grade I winner Cacique; and premiere sire Dansili. He’s also a half-brother to multiple grade I winner Heat Haze.
6. Optimer (Incurable Optimist-Periana, by Aetolian): Argentina-bred was ninth and eighth in his two starts in the United States, most recently in allowance company.
7. Wesley (El Prado-Moving Picture, by Alysheba): Won the Miami Mile at Gulfstream in April; most recently was third in the Dixie behind Parading on Preakness Day.
8. Senior (Arch-Croupier, by Go For Gin): Ran 10th in the Dixie last time out; before that, ran back-to-back seconds in an allowance and an unlisted stakes.
9. Better Talk Now (Talkin Man-Bendita, by Baldski): 2004 winner of the Breeders’ Cup Turf can still fire a big one at 10 years old. He took the 2007 edition of the Manhattan. He finished eighth in last year’s Turf in October, then sixth in the Elkhorn at Keenland in his most recent start April 24.
10. Cosmonaut (Lemon Drop Kid-Cosmic Fire, by Capote): Millionaire and multiple stakeswinner won the Fort Marcy Handicap at Belmont last time out. It was his first start since a runner-up effort in last summer’s Arlington Handicap.
11. Interpatation (Langfuhr-Idealistic Cause, by Habitony): Was fourth behind Cosmonaut in the Fort Marcy, but that was his first start since last October.
12. Lauro (Monsun-Laurencia, by Shirley Heights): German-bred won the Sky Classic and was second in the Red Smith last fall, but was fourth in the Dixie last time out.
13. Cowboy Cal (Giant’s Causeway-Texas Tammy, by Seeking The Gold): Todd Pletcher trainee has really found his niche on turf after a poor start in the 2008 Kentucky Derby. Gave a great account of himself when finishing second by a head to Einstein in the Woodford Reserve on Derby Day. He won the San Pasqual and the Strub earlier this year.
14. Zambezi Sun (Dansili-Ibabla, by Zafonic): Ran fourth in the Woodford Reserve behind two fellow runners here. A group I winner in France, he’s making his fourth U.S. start here.
[...] Race 10: Grade I Manhattan Stakes: A tough field of older turf runners takes the stage just before the Belmont. [...]