Highland Chief-Gufo rematch likely in Manhattan Stakes

ELMONT, N.Y. - Highland Chief and Gufo, the one-two finishers from Saturday’s Grade 1, $700,000 Man O’ War at Belmont Park, are likely to meet again in next month’s Grade 1, $1 million Manhattan Stakes on the June 11 Belmont Stakes card, their connections said.

Highland Chief, making just his third start in 19 months, used his tactical speed to his advantage, getting the jump on closers Gufo and Yibir to win the Man O’ War by a length at 19-1, the longest price on the board. It was Highland Chief’s first win since a victory in a listed race at Ascot in June 2020 and his third win from 12 starts.

While a return trip to Ascot had been discussed earlier this year with the owners, trainer Graham Motion said, “I think it’s more likely we’ll keep him over here. He can campaign in these races. He’s a fresh horse.”

Highland Chief, a son of Gleneagles owned and bred by Fitriani Hay, did win at the Manhattan distance of 1 1/4 miles in that aforementioned Ascot race.

Highland Chief, who gave jockey Trevor McCarthy his first career Grade 1 stakes victory, earned a 105 Beyer Speed Figure for the Man O’ War victory.

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Gufo finished second in the Man O’ War for the second year in a row. At 124 pounds, Gufo as well as Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Yibir were each conceding six pounds to Highland Chief.

“Gufo ran a nice race, maybe he moved a touch too early because the English horse [Yibir] moved early and Joel [Rosario] didn’t want to be boxed in,” trainer Christophe Clement said. “Well done to the winner, he beat us.”

Yibir, who finished a neck behind Gufo in third, was expected to ship back to trainer Charlie Appleby’s England yard. He could return to the U.S. later this year for the Grade 1 Sword Dancer at Saratoga on Aug. 27.