Manhattan Up becomes stakes winner with Los Alamitos Special
CYPRESS, Calif. - A lot has changed for the 5-year-old gelding Manhattan Up in the last month.
He was claimed for $80,000 by trainer Jonathan Wong at Del Mar on Aug. 22 and was based briefly with his stable at Golden Gate Fields earlier this month.
In his first start for Wong, Manhattan Up won the first stakes of his career in Sunday’s $100,000 Los Alamitos Special at 1 1/16 miles.
Manhattan Up was fitted with blinkers for the first time in his 22nd start in the Los Alamitos Special, which was restricted to non-winners of $50,000 in a stakes at a mile or over. The equipment was a boost, Wong said, helping to keep the veteran focused.
“He had a tendency to hang and wait a little bit and we put the blinkers on him to try to sharpen him up and get in the race early,” Wong said.
:: Get Daily Racing Form Past Performances – the exclusive home of Beyer Speed Figures
Ridden by Tiago Pereira, Manhattan Up ($10.80) closed from fourth in a field of six to win the Los Alamitos Special by 1 1/2 lengths over 14-1 Sash. Manhattan Up was timed in 1:42.87 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 90.
Sash set a moderate pace of 23.01 seconds for the opening quarter-mile, and 46.23 for a half-mile, leading by as much as 1 1/2 lengths. Turning into the stretch, Sash maintained a lead, with Manhattan Up looming with purpose three-wide. Bold Endeavor was in contention on the inside of the trio.
Manhattan Up took the lead in the final furlong.
“He looked very good throughout the race,” Wong said.
Sash finished 2 1/2 lengths in front of 5-2 Bold Endeavor, who was followed by Magic On Tap, Leading Score, and Border Town. Magic On Tap, the winner of the Grade 2 Triple Bend Stakes at seven furlongs at Santa Anita in March, was the 8-5 favorite.
Manhattan Up, by Street Boss, has won 4 of 22 starts and has earned $246,467. Manhattan Up is owned by KAM Racing Stables.
Wong said Manhattan Up trained well on the synthetic track at Golden Gate Fields before being sent to Los Alamitos.
Prior to the claim, Manhattan Up was trained by Phil Oviedo. Manhattan Up’s best result in seven stakes for Oviedo was a second in the Grade 3 Laz Barrera Stakes for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs at Santa Anita in 2019.