Mohawk: Manchego fights off Phaetosive in Peaceful Way final

Manchego is now eight-for-eight in her 2-year-old campaign after fighting off a late rally by Phaetosive to score a stakes record 1:52 4/5 win in the C$375,000 Peaceful Way Stakes final for filly trotters on Monday night at Mohawk Racetrack.

Tiffany's Flash (Scott Zeron) showed good speed early, and she would lead the field of ten to the opening quarter in 27 1/5, but 1-5 favorite Manchego (Yannick Gingras) was moving up on the rim at that point, and she would clear to control as the fillies raced into the backstretch.

Manchego was able to get to the half in just 57 seconds, and at that point Phaetosive (Trond Smedshammer) vacated the cones to go after her first-up from fourth. Phaetosive made up position on the outside on the final bend, and then was able to drop into the pocket nearing the 1:25 three-quarters as Tiffany's Flash dropped back from that position.

In the stretch it appeared Phaetosive was running in on Smedshammer, and not only did that allow Manchego to open up a bit on the lead, it also delayed Smedshammer's ability to bring his charge to the outside. When he finally was able to angle out with just over a sixteenth of a mile to go, she had trot to go with it, but Manchego dug in gamely and maintained the lead to the wire, winning by three-parts of a length. Jordan Blue Chip (Paul MacDonell), Courtney Hanover (Rick Zeron), and Repentance (Tim Tetrick) rounded out the top-five finishers.

Manchego won her elimination last week by 5 1/2 lengths in 1:54 1/5, but Gingras noted that she was anxious and more difficult to drive than she had been. He pointed out that she was right back on her game this week, though.

"She was really, really good. She was focused and real easy to drive," he said. "I could have taken her off the gate; I could have done whatever I wanted. That's the way she's been all year, just last week she got a little excited. They got it fixed for this week.

"Trond's filly is a great filly too, no doubt about. She gave me a little battle late; she just wouldn't go away, but I think my filly is unbelievable. I think she's even better probably following horses like most 2-year-olds are, but when you're a big favorite and the target is on your back, you take control of the race. She's a really special filly."

Manchego, a daughter of Muscle Hill, is owned by Black Horse Racing, John Fielding, and Herb Liverman, and she now has a bankroll of C$538,398 to go with her unblemished record. Purchased for $120,000 at the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale, Manchego was bred by Brittany Farms and is the third foal out of the Cantab Hall mare Secret Magic ($198,260). This makes Manchego a half-sister to $300,000+ earner In Secret (Deweycheatumnhowe), and the dam Secret Magic is a half-sister to the likes of millionaire Possess The Magic (Self Possessed). Manchego was the 1-5 favorite and returned $2.60 to win.