First-time starter Manipulated takes Rockville Centre

ELMONT, N.Y. - Sensing no risk, the connections of Manipulated reaped the rewards of running their first-time starter in Saturday’s $125,000 Rockville Centre Stakes at Belmont Park.

Manipulated made a four-wide move turning for home under Luis Saez and he rallied past the pacesetting Sr. Shane and easily outfinished the debut winner Lucky Lurie to win the Rockville Centre for New York-bred juveniles by four lengths. Lucky Lurie was second by a length over Dr. Shane, who was followed, in order, by Extinct Chart, Love That Jazz, Spin Cycle, Devastating, and Uno Emayo.

Despite having never started, Manipulated and Spin Cycle - coupled as part of a Chester and Mary Broman-owned entry - went off the even-money favorite. Manipulated, who ran six furlongs in 1:12.67, returned $4 to win.

Trainer Jimmy Jerkens said Manipulated, a son of Malibu Moon, had trained well enough to warrant running in this race, including a three-furlong blow-out in 36 seconds on Wednesday.

“He had trained good and had been in serious training for a good while,” Jerkens said. “He had some gate issues to deal with, but it looked like he was behaving. He blew out very well here the other day and if he cooled out well we’d enter him.”

Manipulated was seventh early on, advanced in between horses before being swung five wide for the turn. Love That Jazz and Dr. Shane set the pace and though the half-mile fraction was 47.01 seconds, Jerkens noted that was fast on what he called “a slow track.”

Saez had Manipulated in the clear turning for home and though he drifted out a bit when he struck the front outside the sixteenth pole, he was much the best.

“I told him if anything he wants to lug in,” Jerkens said. “He hit him left- handed and 2-year-olds are not used to the stick so I think he went out from the left hand.”

Saez, who won three of the first six races on Saturday’s card, said “coming to the half-mile pole I knew I had a lot of horse and at the three-eighths I asked him a little bit and he just took off. He won easy.”

Manipulated will likely make his next start in the $200,000 Funny Cide Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 28.