Toner already has Arlington Million in mind for Manitoulin

Recent solid efforts against graded stakes company from Hawkish and Manitoulin have trainer Jimmy Toner thinking that a trip to Arlington International Racecourse in August is a possibility for both horses.

Darby Dan Farm Racing’s Manitoulin is a possibility for the Grade I $1,000,000 Arlington Million after finishing a game fourth in the Grade I Manhattan Handicap on June 9. The 5-year-old son of Awesome Again hit the gate at the start of the Manhattan and was just off the pace while being patiently ridden by jockey Mike Smith. Manitoulin battled down the top of the stretch but was unable to hold off a devastating move from eventual winner Spring Quality.

Manitoulin made his seasonal bow in the Grade III Fort Marcy Handicap at Belmont Park on May 5, where he ran sixth.

“He was about 55-feet wide (in the Manhattan Handicap),” Toner said.  “I’ve freshened him up; he came back good and the first race wasn’t bad. It was a little shorter than he likes to run. In the Manhattan, he ran well but he just had a wide trip. There wasn’t but a couple lengths separating the entire field at the finish that day.”

Manitoulin ran fourth in last year’s Grade III Arlington Handicap following a pair of allowance triumphs over the lawn at Keeneland and Belmont Park. He capped off his campaign last year with a graded stakes victory in the Grade II Hollywood Turf Cup at Del Mar on November 24.

The pedigree of Manitoulin is one that Toner is quite familiar with as he trained his dam Soaring Softly – an Eclipse Award-winning daughter of Kris S. who won the inaugural running of the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf in 1999 at Gulfstream Park. 

“He’s got the same attitude that she does,” Toner said. “He’s probably more like her than any of the other foals out of her that I’ve had. He’s big and rough and nasty just like his mom.”

Owned by Robert LaPenta, AJ Suited Racing Stable and Madaket Stables, the 3-year-old son of Artie Schiller was a three-length winner of the Grade II Penn Mile last time out on June 2. Hawkish sat off the pace in the Penn Mile and began making his winning move around the far turn. Although a little bit green coming down the stretch, he was much the best and won decisively.

Hawkish was a first out maiden winner this winter at Gulfstream Park where he defeated eventual graded stakes winner Funny Duck. Two starts later he defeated winners in a first level allowance race over the turf at Aqueduct.

Hawkish will make his next start in the Grade I $1,200,000 Belmont Derby Invitational on July 7 and based off of his performance in that start, Toner will decide if he will ship for the Grade I $400,000 Secretariat Stakes.

“He’s come back very well,” Toner said. “He has trained well since (the Penn Mile) and he breezes back on Sunday. We’re looking forward to stretching him out.”

In his first breeze since the Penn Mile, he covered a half-mile in 48.09 over the inner turf at Belmont Park on June 17. Hawkish is out of the Unbridled mare Bridal Memories, the daughter of the 1997 Beverly D. winner Memories of Silver who also was trained by Toner. 

Like Hawkish, Manitoulin will race once before the Million if he opts to go. This would likely take place in the Grade II $250,000 Bowling Green Handicap on July 28 at Saratoga Race Course.