Twilight Eclipse could shorten up for Manhattan

ELMONT, N.Y. – Twilight Eclipse, who recorded his first Grade 1 victory in Saturday’s $400,000 Man o’ War Stakes at Belmont Park, could make his next start in the Grade 1, $1 million Manhattan Stakes on June 6, trainer Tom Albertrani said Monday.

Following the Man o’ War, Albertrani said that he would likely wait for the Grade 1 United Nations at Monmouth Park on July 5. But after talking to Terry Finley, head of the West Point Thoroughbreds syndicate which owns Twilight Eclipse, Albertrani said the Manhattan on the Belmont Stakes undercard is an option.

“Terry brought up maybe the Manhattan,” Albertrani said. “Depending on who shows up for the Manhattan, it might be something to consider.”

Albertrani’s only reluctance about the Manhattan is that it would mean cutting back to 1 1/4 miles, and Albertrani believes Twilight Eclipse is “more effective” at 1 3/8 miles to 1 1/2 miles. The U.N. and Man o’ War are both run at 1 3/8 miles.

The U.N. would also likely mean another meeting with Main Sequence, who has defeated Twilight Eclipse five times, starting with a neck decision in last year’s U.N.

Twilight Eclipse earned a 104 Beyer Speed Figure for his victory over War Dancer in the Man o’ War. That figure equaled his career best, earned in a neck loss to Main Sequence in last fall’s Joe Hirsch Turf Classic.