Man O Rose notches third consecutive E.B. Johnston win
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CYPRESS, Calif. - Rebounding from a messy loss at Del Mar last month, Man O Rose won Saturday’s $75,000 E.B. Johnston Stakes at Los Alamitos, his third consecutive win in the one-mile race for California-bred milers.
Ridden by Edwin Maldonado, Man O Rose ($3.40) led or disputed the pace throughout before pulling clear by 2 1/4 lengths.
The margin was not as flashy as his eight-length win in the 2024 Johnston, or his win by 5 1/4 lengths last year.
“I think it was tougher competition,” Maldonado said of the smaller margin on Saturday. “He did it and managed to keep his title.
“He’s a very special horse. He’s all heart.”
Man O Rose was timed in 1:36.13. The victory was his seventh stakes win, and 13th win in his 22nd start. Man O Rose has earned $687,465 for owners and breeders Bruce and Beverly Zeitz and trainer Jeff Mullins.
Man O Rose broke from post 3 in a field of five. He led through an opening quarter-mile in 23.30 seconds, and was challenged at the end of the backstretch by 8-1 Mr. Disrespectful, who led narrowly through a half-mile in 46.34 seconds. The two ran as a pair around the turn before Man O Rose took a half-length advantage at the top of the stretch while racing on the inside.
“I was thinking as long as he’s not crowded, I’m fine,” Maldonado said of the challenge. “When he won last year, I got pressure the same way and he kicked for home at the eighth pole.”
Man O Rose led by a length over Mr. Disrespectful with a furlong remaining. Speedy Wilson, who was last of five midway through the race, closed steadily to be second.
“I was not worried at all coming down the lane,” Maldonado said. “I knew I had horse.”
Maldonado said that Man O Rose eased slightly when clear late.
“He thought the race was over,” Maldonado said. “I gave him more encouraging and he pulled away in the last sixteenth and gave me another kick.”
Speedy Wilson, who was ridden by Kazushi Kimura, was the 5-2 second choice on the strength of a second to Shea Brennan in the Bertrando Stakes for statebred milers here in June, and a second in an allowance race at 6 1/2 furlongs at Del Mar on Aug. 28.
“He did everything right,” Kimura said of Speedy Wilson’s stretch run. “He picked it up strongly.”
Mr. Disrespectful finished third, followed by None Above the Law and Cali Cat. The filly Lavender Love was scratched earlier on Saturday.
The Johnston was Man O Rose’s first start since an eighth-place finish in the Grade 2 Green Flash Handicap at five furlongs on turf at Del Mar on Aug. 22. Man O Rose broke through the gate before the start and ran slowly for approximately three furlongs down the backstretch under Maldonado.
Man O Rose was inspected by a state veterinarian and allowed to start. He failed to take his normal position near the front and was not persevered with late. He emerged from the incident with a cut on his leg, Mullins said.
Man O Rose had three workouts in late August and earlier this month leading to Saturday’s win, his first since the Palos Verdes Stakes at six furlongs against open company at Santa Anita in February.
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