Phipps Stable's Point of Entry captured his eighth victory in 12 starts on grass with a smooth come-from-behind win in the $500,000 Woodford Reserve Manhattan Handicap (gr. IT) at Belmont Park June 8.
Trainer Shug McGaughey said emphatically that turf star Point of Entry will compete in the $500,000 Woodford Reserve Manhattan Handicap (gr. IT) June 8, despite the forecast for rain over the weekend.
Evan Hammonds recaps the Belmont Stakes (gr. I), True North Handicap (gr. II), Just A Game Stakes (gr. I), and Manhattan Handicap (gr. IT). watch video
The trio of Boisterous, Desert Blanc, and Top Surprize--the respective top three finishers in the Fort Marcy Stakes (gr. IIIT)--figure to make things interesting again in the Woodford Reserve Manhattan Handicap.
Mission Approved, claimed for $35,000 two starts back and making his first start in 11 months, went wire-to-wire to pull a 21-1 shocker in the $400,000 Woodford Reserve Manhattan Handicap (gr. IT) June 11 at Belmont Park.
Trainer Christophe Clement pronounced reigning turf male champion Gio Ponti's formal preparations for the Woodford Reserve Manhattan (gr. IT) complete following a six-furlong work in 1:13.24 over the Belmont Park turf June 4.
Winchester registered his first stakes win since taking the 2008 Secretariat Stakes (gr. IT) when he posted a 21-1 stunner in the $400,000 Woodford Reserve Manhattan Handicap (gr. IT) at Belmont Park June 5.
Gio Ponti worked five furlongs over Belmont Park's inner turf course May 30 in preparation for an expected start in the $400,000 Woodford Reserve Manhattan Handicap (gr. IT) on the Belmont
Cowboy Cal and Champs Elysees, both narrowly beaten by tough-as-nails Einstein in separate grade I races this year, will see if his absence will be enough to get them over the top this time, as they headline a strong field of 14, including five grade I winners, for the $400,000 Woodford Reserve Manhattan Handicap (gr. IT) June 6 at Belmont Park.
Dancing Forever glided to the rail midstretch in the June 7 Woodford Reserve Manhattan (gr. IT) and looked like a winner, but Out of Control was ready to give him a tussle in the final yards. In a thriller to the finish, it was Dancing Forever who became a grade I winner in the $400,000 Manhattan with his nose decision over Out of Control in the 1 1/4-mile turf race at Belmont Park.
Bushwood Stables' seemingly timeless 9-year-old gelding Better Talk Now will seek a rare repeat in the prestigious $400,000 Woodford Reserve Manhattan Handicap (gr. IT) June 7 at Belmont Park, but will have to take down 11 talented rivals, including a pair of talented horses saddled by Bobby Frankel, who has won this event three times himself.
In a thrilling blanket finish, 8-year-old Better Talk Now beats English Channel and Shakis in the Manhattan Handicap (gr. I).
Sky Conqueror, winner of the May 5 Turf Classic at Churchill Downs, will face off with veteran Better Talk Now and Todd Pletcher trainee English Channel in the June 9 Manhattan Handicap at Belmont Park
The former Irish Derby (Ire-I) victor Grey Swallow delivered a devastating punch in the stretch to leave his opponents far behind in the $250,000 Jim Murray Memorial Handicap (gr. IIT) on the Hollywood Park turf Saturday.
Grey Swallow, winner of the 2004 Irish Derby (Ire-I), cleared quarantine at Hollywood Park Wednesday after being flown to California Monday for the $250,000 Jim Murray Memorial Handicap (gr. IIT) on May 13.
Winless since he captured last year's Manhattan Handicap (gr. IT) on the Belmont Park turf, Meteor Storm returns to New York Saturday to face a strong group of 10 foes in the latest renewal of the $400,000 event on the Belmont Stakes undercard.
Mr. O'Brien started the season an average runner winning average races. Now that the year is in full swing the son of Mukaddamah is looking to dominate when he takes the gate for Saturday's $400,000 Manhattan Handicap (gr. IT) going 1 1/4-miles on the Belmont Stakes undercard.
Saturday's Belmont Stakes Day under card is a rich and varied assortment of four top quality stakes events.
Forbidden Apple will make his 7-year-old debut Saturday at Belmont Park when he attempts to win the $400,000 Manhattan Handicap (gr. IT) for the second straight year.
Frank Stronach's Perfect Sting, the champion turf female of 2000, will run against top male grass horses Saturday when she contests the Manhattan Handicap (gr. I) on the Belmont Stakes card at Belmont Park.
