Manitoulin holds off favored Chicago Style in Hollywood Turf Cup

Darby Dan Farms’ Manitoulin, an invader from the East Coast trained by James Toner, withstood the late challenge of the fast-closing 7-5 favored Chicago Style to win the featured Grade II $200,000 Hollywood Turf Cup Friday at Del Mar.

Beautifully-rated in a stalking position by Hall of Famer Mike Smith from the start of the mile and one-half marathon over the infield grass course, Manitoulin went to the lead in the upper stretch and showed his gameness to score a neck victory over Chicago Style, who was piloted by Drayden Van Dyke.

Third in the field of seven older Thoroughbreds was Flamboyant, a length and three-quarters behind the runner-up and a length and one-quarter ahead of fourth-place Tequila Joe. Infobedad and Prime Attraction were withdrawn from the original line-up.

Manitoulin, a four-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Awesome Again, had campaigned exclusively in the East, most recently running seventh in the Sycamore Stakes at Keeneland race course Oct. 19.

Sent to the gate at 4-1, Manitoulin returned $10.40, $4.80 and $3.40 after his fifth victory in 17 starts. First money of $120,000 increased his earnings to $394,506. Chicago Style paid $3.40 and $2.40, while Flamboyant returned $3.60 to show.

Time for the distance was 2:30.16.

There were no perfect tickets in Friday’s Pick Six, so Saturday’s nine-race program will offer a carryover of $148,562. Post time for the first race is 12:30 p.m. on the next-to-last day of the 16-day Bing Crosby Fall Racing Season.