German-bred Potemkin faces tough task in Manhattan

The German-bred Potemkin is being asked to tackle a lot of firsts in the Grade 1, $1 million Woodford Reserve Manhattan Saturday, but his assistant trainer doesn't think that traveling to and competing in America while being piloted by a new rider will present any difficulties.

"He's feeling good, but this track is different from the racetracks in Europe. There is so much noise and so many more horses so it's a bit scary for him. But he's handling it well and has been training very well and going about his business," said Jenny Mueller.

The 6-year-old Andreas Wohler trainee, who will be ridden by Joel Rosario and gets Lasix for the first time, won a Group 1 race in Italy and a Group 2 event in France in his final two 2016 outings at the exact 1 ¼ miles distance of the Manhattan.

After being idle since November, he came back in the Group 1 Prix Ganay at Saint-Cloud in France May 1 but finished a tired seventh.

"He is absolutely more fit for this race," said Mueller. "He did not do much [training] in front of that race. Everything is good now and the distance is perfect for him. He won't have a problem with the firm ground. He raced on firm ground in Germany, but he is not so dependent upon the ground. He's a big horse and he can handle it soft or firm."

Favored at 3-1 in the Manhattan is Live Oak Plantation's World Approval, a fourth-generation homebred for Charlotte Weber. Even though his older half-siblings are multiple graded stakes winning millionaires Miesque's Approval, Za Approval and Revved Up, Mark Casse told Weber this horse was something special as soon as he was transferred into the barn.

World Approval, who is out of Win Approval by Northern Afleet and was previously trained by Christophe Clement, looks to notch his second Grade 1 score since coming to Casse after the 2015 season. He hopes to better the 5-year-old gray gelding's performance in last year's Manhattan when he set the pace all the way past the eighth pole before surrendering the lead and hanging on for third.

"It brings me a great deal of pride to train this horse, who is out of maybe the best Florida-bred broodmare, ever," said Casse, who added for his entire life he has admired Weber, a doyenne of Thoroughbred racing and breeding and the owner of the 4,500-acre Live Oak Stud in Florida.

Although Classic Empire was forced to miss the Belmont as he recovers from a hoof abscess, Casse is still poised to have a supremely good day. He saddles seven horses, and three are in Grade 1 races.

Three horses on his dance card - Met Mile contender Awesome Slew, Holding Gold, and Tizza Runner - will carry Mrs. Weber's famed white with red polka dot silks, which have graced winner's circles from coast to coast in many of the sport's most prestigious races for more than 50 years.

"We're excited about Awesome Slew. Belmont Park has always been very dear to her [Weber], so to have three running for her on Belmont Stakes Day is a true privilege for us. She is a great sportswoman," he said.