Man O Rose catches Listenupshance late to prevail in Palos Verdes Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. - When Man O Rose broke slower than expected in Sunday’s Grade 3 Palos Verdes Stakes at Santa Anita, jockey Emisael Jaramillo rapidly switched his strategy, opting for a stalking trip.

“Relax, relax, relax,” Jaramillo said of his need for a revamped approach.

Man O Rose, who has frequently led, had won from off the pace, but he did so in a more surprising manner in the Palos Verdes.

Closing from fourth in a field of five, Man O Rose rallied wide through the final quarter-mile to win for the 12th time in his 19th start in the $100,000 Palos Verdes, his graded stakes debut.

Sent off favored, Man O Rose ($4) caught stretch leader Listenupshance in the final furlong to win by 1 1/2 lengths. Man O Rose ran six furlongs in 1:09.87 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 96.

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“At the three-eighths pole, I asked him,” Jaramillo said. “He’s very classy.”

Listenupshance (13-1) had his stakes debut in the $100,000 Palos Verdes, his first start since a win in a $50,000 claimer at Del Mar in November. LIstenupshance, ridden by Tyler Baze, closed from third to lead in early stretch.

“I thought I had him,” Baze said of beating Man O Rose.

Baze said he expects improvement from Listenupshance, a 4-year-old gelding.

“This horse is unbelievable,” he said. “I look for big things with this horse.”

Pilot Commander, winner of the Grade 3 San Carlos Stakes at seven furlongs last March, set a moderate pace of 22.49 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and a half-mile in 44.98 in the Palos Verdes. The 7-5 second choice, Pilot Commander faded from contention in early stretch.

Smooth Cruisein and Modus Bestia completed the order of finish in the small field.

Madaket Road, fourth in the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes on Dec. 28, was withdrawn on veterinary advice. Madaket Road was scratched from the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 24.

Man O Rose, a 6-year-old California-bred gelding by Stanford, races for owners and breeders Bruce and Beverly Seitz. Trained by Jeff Mullins, Man O Rose has won his last five starts, including four stakes for California-breds from September to mid-January.

Man O Rose began his career with a sixth-place finish at Del Mar in November 2022. He has earned $632,965, and has six career stakes wins.

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