Manhattan: Real Solution proves himself with late run

ELMONT, N.Y. - Real Solution shed the tag of “hanger” once and for all at Belmont Park on Saturday after edging past Kaigun in late stretch to register a 1 1/4-length triumph in the $1 million Manhattan. Seek Again, who nearly upset Wise Dan last month in the Grade 1 Turf Classic at Churchill Downs, finished third as the 2-1 favorite.

Real Solution had not crossed the finish line first in seven previous starts in the U.S., although he was already a Grade 1 winner having been elevated to first on the disqualification of The Apache in the 2013 Arlington Million. Real Solution entered the Manhattan off a troubled second-place finish in the Grade 1 Man o’ War four weeks earlier.

Jockey Javier Castellano broke Real Solution alertly then allowed him to settle about 10 lengths off the early lead of Five Iron who opened a commanding advantage in the run down the backstretch. Real Solution rallied four wide commencing his bid into the stretch, joined the leaders approaching the eighth pole and gradually edged clear of Kaigun at the end.

Kaigun moved in company just inside the winner, stuck his nose in front briefly in early stretch, continued gamely but proved no match for the winner while finishing a length clear of Seek Again for second. The latter joined for command between horses once settling into the stretch but could not sustain his bid.

Real Solution is a 5-year-old homebred son of Kitten’s Joy owned by Ken & Sarah Ramsey and trained by Chad Brown. He paid $13 for his second Grade 1 victory after completing the distance in 159.27 over a firm course.

“I’m glad he put his nose in front officially at the wire because he deserved to win a Grade 1 being in front of everybody,” said Brown. ““He might have a little bit of hang in him, but I think the circumstances made him tire in certain races. When Javier got off him after the Man o’ War, he said this horse was a cinch in the Manhattan. He said if he just left out of there in the Man o’ War and didn’t care who he was following, he’d have won. That was my fault, because I told him to follow Amira’s Prince. He left out of the gate today, he got a spot, and a mile and one quarter is his distance.”

Brown said he wasn’t surprised at the way the race unfolded, with Five Iron opening such a lengthy advantage.

“Five Iron is a free-running horse and he’s dangerous, he’s a class horse and I was worried about him going like that,” said Brown. “But it all worked out terrific. Javier gave a tremendous ride, the horse was training really well and I couldn’t be more pleased.”

Brown said Real Solution would make his next start in defense of his title in the Arlington Million.