Man O Rose hopes for less eventful run seeking E.B. Johnston three-peat

Any concern about Man O Rose’s condition after a disastrous last-place finish in the Grade 2 Green Flash Handicap on Aug. 22 at Del Mar dissipated in the following two weeks.

Man O Rose worked a half-mile in a fast 46.80 seconds on Aug. 29 at Del Mar and five furlongs in 1:00 on Sept. 5.

“Those are normal works for him,” trainer Jeff Mullins said.

Those works have helped prepare Man O Rose for an attempt at a third consecutive win in Saturday’s $75,000 E.B. Johnston Stakes at a mile at Los Alamitos.

Man O Rose won his first stakes in the 2024 Johnston, by eight lengths, and has won five more stakes, the latest of which was the Palos Verdes Stakes against open company at six furlongs at Santa Anita in February.

Man O Rose, who races for Bruce and Beverly Seitz, was given a rest after he finished third at 2-5 in the Sensational Star Stakes for statebreds on the hillside turf course at Santa Anita in March.

The Green Flash was designed as a prep race for the Johnston, but little was gained.

Man O Rose broke through the gate moments before the start and ran down the backstretch with jockey Edwin Maldonado aboard. Man O Rose was allowed to start, which surprised Mullins. When Man O Rose failed to take his normal position near the front, he was not persevered with by Maldonado when beaten.

The incident left Mullins furious and Man O Rose with a skinned foreleg, which healed quickly.

“I’m grateful that he wasn’t injured worse than he was,” Mullins said. “It took the hair off. That wasn’t the issue. The issue was as far as he ran.

Maldonado is expected to have the 6-year-old Man O Rose on or near the lead Saturday.

“You have to play the break,” Mullins said. “He’s not a horse you grab and take him back. If he breaks slow and awkwardly, you have to work it out from there. If he breaks running, you can’t take it away from him.

“He’s a quirky horse. Edwin knows him so well. You really don’t have to give any instructions.”

Man O Rose drew post 3 in a field of six in the Johnston that includes Speedy Wilson, who was second in the Bertrando Stakes for statebred milers here in June, and None Above the Law, an 8-year-old gelding who won the 2024 Bertrando.

None Above the Law, a winner of 8 of 51 starts, was claimed for $50,000 by trainer Aggie Ordonez from a third-place finish in an allowance/optional-claiming race at 1 3/8 miles on turf on Sept. 5 at Del Mar. On Aug. 1 at Del Mar, None Above the Law was third by a head in the California Dreamin Stakes for statebreds at 1 1/16 miles on turf.

Speedy Wilson was second in an allowance race against open company at 6 1/2 furlongs on Aug. 28 at Del Mar.

“I loved how he finished in his last race at Del Mar,” trainer Phil D’Amato said. “I think he’s coming into the race in good shape. I’m looking forward to a winning performance.

“We have to beat the defending champ.”