Manchurian High Repeats in Sunshine Millions Turf
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Gulfstream Park
Defending champion Manchurian High ($16.40) knifed his way through traffic and denied Reporting Star by a half-length in a thrilling renewal Saturday of the $150,000 Sunshine Millions Turf at Gulfstream Park.
Owned and trained by Lilli Kurtinecz, the 8-year-old gelding was handled confidently throughout by rider Luis Saez and was timed in 1:44.89 for the 1 1/16-mile Turf. It was 1 3/4 lengths back to favored Fundamental in third.
“Sometimes it kind of scares me,” Kurtinecz said. “I don’t want Luis to ride him overconfidently and get him stuck (inside), but Luis is very confident in him. I don’t even say anything. Those guys are the team, so just go get it.”
After an alert start from post six, Manchurian High was guided to the rail by Saez and tracked Fundamental while racing well off the pace set by Cement Clement. My Point Exactly and Reporting Star scrimmaged directly behind the early leader through a half-mile split of :49.19. Saez gave Manchurian High his cue on the far turn and his mount responded smartly to reach contention. They committed to an inside path in the stretch and found a seam just in time for Manchurian High to burst through for his successful title defense.
“I think he always tries and he’s always consistent,” Kurtinecz added. “He comes from behind and he always comes running, but he leaves himself so much to do. I don’t think he’s quite the graded stakes horse, but I’m not going to run him for a tag. Somebody called the other day and asked if he was for sale and I said no. He trains me, I don’t train him. He’s the boss.”
Manchurian High ended 2014 with a close third in the 12-furlong W.L. McKnight Handicap (G3) over this course, and began 2015 by pulling away from Reporting Star to land the Sunshine Millions Turf before finishing a creditable fourth in the $300,000 Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap (G1) in February. Things didn’t go the gelding’s way in his next five starts, however, and it wasn’t until October that he was able to get his picture taken once more in an allowance at Keeneland. Manchurian High followed that with a sixth, beaten four lengths, in the W.L. McKnight (G3) on December 26.
According to Kurtinecz, the son of The Daddy may attempt a three-peat in the 2017 Sunshine Millions Turf. He has won 10 of 40 career starts, and has earned $479,013.
“I’m under too much pressure now,” she said. “Do I retire a trophy if I do it three times in a row? A 9-year-old, is that a record? I don’t know. Whatever he wants to do, he owes me nothing. He’s strong, he’s sound, so I’ll come back.”
Source: Gulfstream Park
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