Manga Man goes from last to first in Green Carpet Stakes

In a dramatic finish to the $75,000 Green Carpet Stakes for Ohio-bred 3-year-olds, favored Diamond Dust ducked in and lost his rider while leading in the stretch, allowing second choice Manga Man to claim the victory on Saturday at Belterra Park.

Diamond Dust, a four-time stakes winner, came into the Green Carpet, his turf debut, with three wins in as many outings this season. The gelding split horses under regular rider Luis Colon to take a length lead in the stretch, but ducked in badly from the whip near the furlong marker. He stumbled, losing Colon.

Manga Man ($10.40), who was unhurried early under Luis Gonzalez, was still last of 10 with just over a quarter-mile remaining. He avoided the trouble in the stretch by rallying outside horses to make his run, edging clear late to win by a length. Send Me On, who had been rallying inside before needing to avoid the loose Diamond Dust, held second by a neck over Danefield.

The final time for the 1 1/16 miles on turf rated good was 1:45.44.

This was the first career stakes win for Manga Man, who overall has won three times from 13 starts. The Kingship gelding is trained by Alan Sobol for Martha Boland.

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