Maker Exacta in the Man O'War?
By Laurie Ross, IMTBreds
The 1 3/8-mile Man O’War Stakes, held over the Belmont Park
turf oval has a long and illustrious history. Previous winners include 2-time Champion
Grass Horse Gio Ponti, Point of Entry, and the old veteran Twilight Eclipse who
earned over $2 million the hard way in 40 starts.
The 2019 Man O’War Stakes drew a field of 9 accomplished
turf routers. The turf is expected to be firm.
The Favorites
The morning line favorite naturally hails from the Chad
Brown barn. FOCUS
GROUP (5-2)
has won or placed in 8 of 12 lifetime starts, including a nose victory in the 1
1/2-mile Pan American at Gulstream Park in his last outing. Brown teams up with
Irad Ortiz, Jr. for a 40% success rate.
The drawback is that Focus Group is 0-4 at Belmont Park; his best
placing was 3rd two years ago. Worth a look for exotics.
Irish super trainer Aidan O’Brian shipped
in two contenders for the Man o’War. MAGIC
WAND (IRE) (3-1) has a spotty
record, seldom winning, but good for a runner-up position. The bay filly was 4th
in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf, beaten only 2 3/4 lengths over
good turf. She was last seen finishing a
distant 5th in the Dubai Sheema Classic. The filly hasn’t seen a firm turf course
since before May of last year. Note that O’Brian starters are 2-40 in the last
2 years in the US.
Hard to believe, but ZULU
ALPHA (4-1) has never raced at
Belmont in his 24-race career. Mike Maker has kept the 6YO gelding busy winning
races at Gulfstream Park and in the mid-west. Gulfstream Park form transfers to Belmont
Park, and Zulu Alpha won 2 of 3 starts at the southern track this winter. He
was last seen placing 3rd, beaten only a length in the Elkhorn over
a yielding Keeneland course. Irad Ortiz,
Jr. jumps off Zulu Alpha to stick with his regular mount Focus Group, but no
matter, the equally adept Javier Castellano takes over. Win/Place contender.
Longshots
KULIN ROCK (20-1) is a former claimer who found new life in the
Maker barn. After a career as a claiming horse at shorter distances, Kulin Rock
stretched out in the Mac Diarmida to finish a fast-closing fourth, missing by
only a length behind Zulu Alpha. Next out at 1 1/2-miles, he made a sustained
drive to win an allowance. Sure, it’s a step up, but his last late-pace speed
figure is the second highest in the field. This is an improving horse, and the
field isn’t that tough for a G1.
ARKLOW (8-1) wasn’t
ready for prime time in his 2019 debut. After rearing in the gate, he and Florent
Geroux weren’t settled when the gate opened. Arklow was off a step slow and
took a right turn, unseating his rider. In reality, this is his first start off
a year layoff. Arklow tries hard and has placed no worse than 4th in
his last 9 starts. He’s in a little tough but could hit the board at long odds.
CHANNEL MAKER (6-1)
hasn’t been near the winners circle since last September, when he earned the
win in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes (G1) at Belmont. Despite not hitting
the board this year, Channel Maker was a very close 4th, missing by
only 1 1/4-lengths to Zulu Alpha in the Mac Diarmida (G2). Channel Maker does
his best work when he’s allowed to press the pace, and he should get that
chance here. Exotics look.
EPICAL (10-1) is stepping up in company, but has
won or placed in all four of his last starts in California. James Cassidy doesn’t ship for the fun of it,
but unfortunately, over the last 2 years, his charges are 0-2 when shipping. Epical
does his best work on the front end. Keep in mind for exotics.
HUNTING HORN (IRE) (10-1) finished next to his stablemate Magic
Wand in the Dubai Sheema Classic, and is
clearly a second string O’Brian trainee. His best placing in the US was 3rd
behind Zulu Alpha in the 1 1/2-mile W. L. McKnight Stakes (G3) over a yielding
Gulfstream Park turf course in January. One of Hunting Horn’s best placings was
at Belmont over a firm course when he finished 3rd in the Belmont
Derby (G1) last year.
VILLAGE KING (ARG) (15-1) likes to set or press the pace, but seldom lasts for the win. This is
an odd placing by Pletcher, perhaps with hopes that a shorter distance might
help, but Epical will put the pressure on.
Selections
Village King, Channel Maker, and Epical will be close to the lead. Magic
Wand, Hunting Horn, Arklow and Zulu Alpha like to press or sit mid-pack while
Focus Group and Kulin Rock do their best as closers.
Will we see a Mike Maker
exacta? Zulu Alpha has beaten three in here, Kulin Rock, Arklow and Hunting
Horn. He must be considered the class and he has good current form. Kulin
Rock has improved dramatically since joining the Maker barn, and this seems
a logical spot for him to move forward. Very enticing at 15-1 morning odds, and
it will be a gift if he’s anywhere near that at post time.
Focus Group will be
bet down due to his connections, but I seen him as a false favorite. Sure, he’s
won/placed in his last 4 starts, but that wasn’t at Belmont. He’s hit the board
only once in 4 tries at the track. Maybe 5th times the charm, but I’d
rather use him underneath.
#2 ZULU ALPHA (4-1)
#9 KULIN ROCK (20-1)
#6 FOCUS GROUP (5-2)
#4 ARKLOW (8-1)
Handigambling:
I see only a couple that I like
for the win, but most of the field have a good chance of hitting the board.
$0.50 Super – 2, 9 / 6, 4/ all /
all = $60
$10 WPS (4-1 or higher) #9 = $30
Photo by generous permission of Eclipse Sportswire.
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