Twilight Eclipse cuts back in Manhattan
ELMONT, N.Y. – Twilight Eclipse ended a long losing streak when he won the Man o’ War Stakes last month, and he’ll try to make it two in a row Saturday in the Grade 1, $1 million Manhattan.
It will be no surprise if Twilight Eclipse loses. After winning the Mac Diarmida Stakes in February 2014, he had lost eight straight before the Man o’ War, and the Manhattan field looks difficult to separate.
What would surprise is Twilight Eclipse failing to run his race. His last seven starts all have been strong.
Five losses in his streak came by less than a length, and five came when he faced Main Sequence, the 2014 champion turf horse.
“He’s been nothing but a happy, healthy horse since he came in here three years ago,” said Tom Albertrani, who trains Twilight Eclipse for West Point Thoroughbreds.
Eleven were entered in the Manhattan, which will be contested at 1 1/4 miles over a turf course that should be good to firm. Trainer Chad Brown has three in the race but said Slumber could race instead at Monmouth Park.
Save for Main Sequence, who pointed to the United Nations, all the top 10- to 12-furlong older grass horses in North America have shown up for the seven-figure Manhattan, and not to be ignored is the European import Magic Artist.
Key contenders
Twilight Eclipse (Last 3 Beyers: 104-100-99)
* After four straight peak races – including a closing third in the Breeders’ Cup Turf – he probably ran a touch below form in his first two starts this year, but DRF Formulator has him closing his final three furlongs in the Man o’ War in a fine 34.95 seconds.
“He’s training as well if not better into this race as far as I can see,” Albertrani said.
* One point of concern: Twilight Eclipse historically has been more of a 1 1/2-mile horse and has started only once at 1 1/4 miles, finishing unplaced.
Big Blue Kitten (Last 3 Beyers: 102-100-103)
* Like Twilight Eclipse, he’s remarkably consistent, having compiled a 12-6-4 record from 25 starts, and similar to Twilight Eclipse, his best races have come at 1 1/2 miles. He comes from farther off the pace than Twilight Eclipse, and Big Blue Kitten, making the first start of his 7-year-old season, ran past overmatched foes in winning the 1 1/8-mile Fort Marcy on May 2.
“His Fort Marcy was terrific, and he’s really trained great since then,” Brown said. “Right now, physically, he’s as good as I’ve ever seen him.”
Finnegans Wake (Last 3 Beyers: 99-99-101)
* On Derby Day, his 29th career start produced his first Grade 1 win as Finnegans Wake won the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic by a nose over Sky Captain. However, this is a much deeper field than the one he beat in Kentucky, and his top races all have come on courses much tighter than Belmont.
Jack Milton (Last 3 Beyers: 99-98-95)
* Late-stretch trouble in the Turf Classic cost him second, but he wasn’t beating Finnegans Wake.
* Has looked best suited to nine-furlong races, but trainer Todd Pletcher said the more mature and settled Jack Milton has become, the more confidence he has in the horse to stay longer distances.
Magic Artist (No previous Beyer)
* Can’t be dismissed, and should be a fair price. Comes out of Italian races, and Italian racing has declined in significance, but this is his best distance, and at his peak, he came within 3 1/2 lengths of the German star Sea the Moon last year.
War Dancer (Last 3 Beyers: 104-79-91)
* He led until the last couple jumps in the Man o’ War before being nipped by Twilight Eclipse, but he could settle third behind Legendary and General a Rod on Saturday. Trainer Bill Mott said War Dancer, who has made only two starts for Mott, might be best at the Manhattan’s 10-furlong trip.