Flintshire powerful winner of Manhattan
It seems odd to say that a Grade 1 is a class drop, but for European superstar Flintshire, the $1,000,000 Grade 1 Woodford Reserve Manhattan Stakes was just that.
Breaking from the rail, World Approval immediately set sail for the lead. Grand Tito fell in right behind him, followed by Divisidero. Odds on favorite Flintshire tucked in along the rail in midfield, just in front of last year's Manhattan runner-up Big Blue Kitten. Triple Threat was left at the gate, and as such, was the early trailer.
With little real speed in the field, World Approval was able to get away with average fractions. He posted splits of :23.81, :49.77, and 1:13.90. Grand Tito and Divisidero continued to track that pace in second and third respectively, while Flintshire traveled comfortably behind the leaders waiting for the opportune time to pounce.
Exiting the far turn, World Approval, Grand Tito, and Divisidero were three across the track. Behind them, Flintshire was no longer covered up, and jockey Javier Castellano was tipping the two time Arc de Triomphe runner-up to the outside for the stretch run.
While Flintshire was charging up the center of the track, Ironicus was full of run down on the rail but was waiting for a clear path. By midstretch, Flintshire had struck the front and was pulling away as easy as he pleased. With the wire looming, Ironicus finally got a clear path on the inside, but it was too little, too late.
Flintshire crossed the wire the winner by 2 ¼ lengths in a final time of 1:58.92 for the mile and a quarter over Belmont's firm inner turf. While the early stages of the race were moderate, Flintshire displayed an impressive turn of foot to put up the final quarter in :21.83. Ironicus nipped World Approval on the wire to steal second by a head, and Grand Tito was able to hang on for fourth.
Divisidero, Big Blue Kitten, Triple Threat, Slumber, and Oathkeeper completed the order of finish.
As the 3-5 favorite, Flintshire paid $3.40/$2.80/$2.50 across the board. Ironicus, the 6-1 second betting choice, returned $4.80/$4.00, and pace-setting World Approval returned $5.50 for the show. The $2 exacta paid $18.20, the $2 trifecta returned $109.00, and the $2 superfecta was worth $874.00.
Winning trainer Chad Brown was impressed with Flintshire's versatility. "This race wasn't our first pick,” he explained. “When we got him in and looked at the schedule, how far he'd been running - a mile and a half. He just dragged us to this race with his training in the morning. So sharp work after work. I can't leave him in the barn for a million bucks when he's just a couple of hundred yards from here."
Jose Ortiz, who was aboard second place finisher Ironicus, stated after the race that they did not have the best of trips. "I was in a perfect spot early on. Then, at the three-eighths pole Javier was outside me and I tried to move out, but he wasn't letting me in. I took a chance going inside but I didn't have much room,” he lamented. “If I was in a better position, I think I might have won."
By Dansili (GB) and out of the Sadler's Wells mare Dance Routine (GB), Flintshire is a very accomplished, world traveling multiple Grade/Group 1 winner. Bred and owned by Juddmonte Farms, Flintshire improved his career record to 20: 6-10-1 for total purse earnings of $8,189,910.
"There are no immediate plans. Obviously, the goal is to take down that race at Santa Anita at the end of the year,” Brown said in response to the question of where Flintshire would race next. “How we get there - there is more than one way to do that."