Strike Midnight faces solid field in Manila Stakes
ELMONT, N.Y. – Strike Midnight ran so well here in his 3-year-old debut last month that his connections were eyeing an invite to next Saturday’s $1.25 million Belmont Derby.
But the New York Racing Association did not issue that invite, showing a preference for stakes winners. Strike Midnight will attempt to win his first stakes in Monday’s $100,000 Manila Stakes going a mile on the Widener turf.
The Manila came up a contentious race, with stakes winners Life Imitates Art, Too Discreet, and Giant Run among the seven who will run on the turf. Voluntario was entered for the main track only.
On June 3, Strike Midnight came off an eight-month layoff to win a first-level allowance race by a length at odds of 15-1. That made him 2 for 3 at a mile at Belmont, with his loss being a fifth-place finish as the 3-1 favorite in last October’s Awad Stakes.
Trainer Leah Gyarmati felt Strike Midnight had “a questionable trip” in the Awad, but she was very pleased with the stalking trip Strike Midnight received under Jose Lezcano in the allowance. Lezcano is back aboard Monday.
“He ran so good and did it so easily, too; he did it like he was sleepwalking,” said Gyarmati, who trains the son of Smart Strike for owner Jeff Treadway. “He came out of it great. We were really excited about him last year. Glad he seems to be living up to our hopes.”
Life Imitates Art has three wins and three seconds from seven starts, including a victory in the Sophomore Turf Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs in his most recent start. Trainer Chad Brown said he briefly gave thought to running in the Penn Mile but thought that race came up too tough.
“I think the one-turn setup might be good for him,” Brown said.
Manila Stakes (Race 9)
KEY CONTENDERS
Strike Midnight, by Smart Strike
Last 3 Beyers: 87-67-75
◗ Has won both of his starts going a mile over firm turf at Belmont.
◗ Finished fifth in his debut sprinting at Saratoga last summer.
“The distance wasn’t right for him,” Gyarmati said.
Life Imitates Art, by More Than Ready
Last 3 Beyers: 86-78-87
◗ In his only finish out of the exacta, the horse got a bit hard to handle down the backside when he got in the clear too soon, Brown said.
“He got caught wide pulling, and it didn’t work out of him,” Brown said. “Outside of that, he’s been a consistent horse.”
Too Discreet, by Discreet Cat
Last 3 Beyers: 88-79-71
◗ Tries to stretch his speed an extra furlong after a front-running score in the seven-furlong Paradise Creek here May 28.
“I think if he is going to stay a mile, Belmont might be the place because it’s a one-turn mile,” trainer Christophe Clement said.
◗ Is a full brother to millionaire Discreet Marq, a multiple stakes winner at up to 1 1/8 miles.