Brown has 1-2 finishers in Manhattan Stakes

ELMONT, N.Y. -- Trainer Chad Brown added to his already remarkable record of success in Belmont Park’s Grade 1 Manhattan after sending out Instilled Regard and Rockemperor to a one-two finish for his sixth victory in the 1 1/4-mile turf fixture.

Instilled Regard and Rockemperor were two of the three horses Brown started in the Manhattan along with Devamani, who finished seventh in the field of eight older long-distance turf specialists. Instilled Regard also gave his rider, Irad Ortiz Jr., and Brown, their fourth wins on the card.

Ortiz, who had ridden both Instilled Regard and Rockemperor in their previous starts, opted to stick with the former in the Manhattan and was able to settle the multiple Grade 2 winner in good striking position after an alert beginning about four lengths off the early leader. Instilled Regard got shuffled back to near the rear of the field entering the stretch, accelerated suddenly between horses when set down for the final run, finally overtaking his stablemate with a late surge in the closing strides.

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Rockemperor, who suffered a frustrating nose setback in the Grade 2 Charlie Whittingham Stakes at Santa Anita in his previous start, also raced well placed while reserved within a couple of lengths of pace setter Cross Border. Rockemperor angled off the rail to come around the leaders with his bid once entering the stretch, stuck his head in front about 100 yards from the wire but could not resist the winner at the end.

Sadler’s Joy circled the field to loom boldly in early stretch but was unable to match strides with the top pair in the final sixteenth. Sadler’s Joy has now finished second once and third twice in three starts in the Manhattan.

Instilled Regard, a 5-year-old son of Arch, completed 10 furlongs over a firm course in 2:02.59 and paid $6.30 as the second choice in the wagering, just behind the favored Rockemperor. He earned a 102 Beyer Speed Figure, the same as in his most recent race, a victory in the Fort Marcy, and just one point below his career best.

“I liked where Rockemperor and Instilled Regarded were placed during the early going,” said Brown. “Johnny [Velazquez, on Rockemperor] and Irad had terrific posts and took advantage of them. I was concerned it might not open up inside and that they would get out. With a slower-type pace, I was worried everybody would get bunched up and there would be no separation. Luckily they both did. It turned into the last move was going to win that race and Irad made the last move with Instilled Regard.”

Brown said Rockemperor, who has now hit the board three times in Grade 1 and Grade 2 races without a win to show for his efforts, “ran his heart out” in defeat.

“Rockemperor has been an unlucky horse but is a very talented horse,” Brown said. “It’s difficult one of them had to lose. They both ran winning races for sure.”

As for winning the Manhattan for the sixth time, Brown was quick to credit that success as a team effort.

“It means a lot to win this race six times, especially to do it with six different horses, all different types, different shapes and sizes and from different origins,” Brown said. “And through the years a lot of team members were responsible for this. The team followed our program and the program of [Bobby] Frankel and it’s very gratifying not only for me, but for all of them as well.