Flintshire goes for new trainer at less-than-ideal distance
ELMONT, N.Y. – Slumber won the 2015 Manhattan Stakes by almost three lengths, and he’s back to try again Saturday with good form from the rest of 2015 and an encouraging comeback run May 7 in the Grade 1 Turf Classic. Those credentials sound strong, yet Slumber is a 10-1 shot on Belmont’s morning line for the Grade 1, $1 million Manhattan, which says all you need to know about this race.
The Manhattan’s strength starts at the top with Flintshire, who’s certain to be solidly favored to win his first start since being transferred from trainer Andre Fabre in France to the stacked barn of trainer Chad Brown. How loaded is Brown? He has four entered here, with Big Blue Kitten and Wake Forest – hardly no-hopers – joining Slumber and Flintshire. Wake Forest and Slumber have the same owners, and one could be scratched in favor of the United Nations Stakes at Monmouth, Brown said.
Flintshire was among the world’s best grass horses in 2014 and 2015. Twice he has finished second in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, and he has traveled as far abroad as Hong Kong to win a Group 1. His two ships to the U.S. have yielded a second in the 2014 Breeders’ Cup Turf and a dazzling victory last summer in the Sword Dancer at Saratoga.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 10 Flintshire. Trainer Chad Brown is 10-1-2-3 with a $0.33 ROI over the past five years in graded stakes of 10 furlongs and longer in the first start following a trainer switch. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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But Flintshire presents an unusual case, a 6-year-old who spent three full years based in France, training European-style with Fabre, a master horseman. Now he is operating under a much different American regime – new handlers, strange surroundings, different climate. Yet his Belmont works have impressed local clockers, and Brown said Flintshire has settled comfortably into this environment.
“Fabre sent the horse over in great shape, and you’re not trying to reinvent the wheel here,” Brown said. “We just want to keep things where they were, and hopefully we’ve been able to do that. We’ve tried not to be a hero here, just blend him into our program. He’s all class, this horse, and he’s taken things very easily.”
Flintshire and his $7.6 million bankroll race on Lasix for the first time Saturday, and this will be Flintshire’s first start at a distance as short as 1 1/4 miles since his career debut three years ago. Brown believes Flintshire will handle the sharper trip and is ready to roll in his first start since Dec. 13.
“He hasn’t run this short in a while, but based on his recent workouts, the horse is telling me he can,” Brown said. “He doesn’t train like he’ll need a race.”
Bettors must weigh Flintshire’s obvious merits against a short price, marginal concern about how he has adapted here, and the fact that several others are good enough to win.
The Manhattan’s 10 furlongs, Brown believes, is Slumber’s best distance, and Slumber’s record – all five of his wins have come at this trip – bears that out. He was beaten 1 1/4 lengths in the Turf Classic last month (quickly galloping out in front past the wire) after diving to the inside in deep stretch and getting into a fairly tight spot.
“I thought the horse ran terrific,” Brown said. “Maybe with a little different trip, he wins.”
Big Blue Kitten, closing in on $3 million in purse earnings, has won 4 of 7 starts at Belmont but is 0-2-0 from three starts at 1 1/4 miles and had too much to do in the 2015 Manhattan while running on for second. He was fifth behind Slumber in the Turf Classic while probably shaking off rust following a winter break.
“He really ran like a horse that needed a race,” said Brown.
Who else is in the Manhattan? The two horses in front of Slumber in the Turf Classic, Divisidero and World Approval. Divisidero won the Pennine Ridge Stakes over this course last summer and, though he turned in a career-best performance last out while making his third start this season, he might still be cycling up.
“I don’t think he’s peaked at all,” said trainer Buff Bradley. “He’s been feeling so good since his last race. He plays on the track more now than he has ever before, like he’s really enjoying things. It’s always good to see that kind of energy.”
As well as Divisidero ran in the Turf Classic, he only beat World Approval by a neck, and World Approval, another 4-year-old, also possesses upside.
“We think he’s moving forward, and our feeling is that he’s as good as anybody on the turf,” said trainer Mark Casse.
That thought will certainly be put to the test Saturday, when World Approval lines up against most of the best turf-route horses in North America.