Albertrani happy with Manhattan contender Sadler's Joy

Trainer Tom Albertrani reported Thursday morning that he was more than happy with Grade 1, $1 million Manhattan contender Sadler's Joy, coming off a strong third-place finish in the Grade 1 Man o' War after encountering traffic in the stretch only to miss second by a nose.

Last Sunday, the 5-year-old son of Kitten's Joy breezed four furlongs in 50.99 seconds on the main track for his penultimate work heading into the race.

"We're doing super going into the Manhattan," said Albertrani. "We'll probably just give him a maintenance work on either Monday or Tuesday since he worked a couple of days ago, but he's doing well. 

"I thought he ran a really good race in the Man o' War," he added. "Unfortunately, he got trapped inside almost the entire race and I thought he would've clearly been second best in there if he was able to get a way out earlier on. He ran huge and it seems like he's been making good forward steps with every race."

Albertrani noted that Sadler's Joy will have to clear a new hurdle in the June 10 Manhattan: a cut back in distance to 1 1/4 miles following the 1 3/8-mile Man o' War and a Grade 2 win at 1 1/2 miles in the Pan American on April 1 at Gulfstream Park. 

"The only thing against us I'd say would be the distance," said Albertrani. "He's won at that distance last year against a little weaker competition, but naturally this would be a real test for him."

Albertrani added Smooth Daddy, winner of the Grade 3 Fort Marcy on May 6, came out of his race in good order. Initially under consideration for the Manhattan, Albertrani said he will be pointed to another spot. Albertrani also said that multiple grade stakes placed runner Giant Run had suffered a minor injury exiting a fourth-place running on March 4 in the Grade 3 Canadian Turf Stakes at Gulfstream but should rejoin his barn for a summer campaign.

Source: NYRA Communications