Horse Racing Roundup : Manila, Not a Folder, Takes Belmont’s Turf Classic by Nose

Bradley M. Shannon has two horses in training, and Saturday he watched one of them, Manila, win the $705,250 Turf Classic at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y. But there was a moment of doubt.

“We weren’t sure if we won,” said Shannon, a 39-year-old resident of Lexington, Ky.

“I thought he won,” trainer Leroy Jolley said. “But you never know for sure.”

But Manila, a bay, got up in the final strides under Jose Santos for a nose victory over English-based Damister to extend his winning streak to five stakes on the grass.

Shannon paid $30,000 to supplement the Kentucky-bred son of Lyphard into the Turf Classic. Manila earned $423,150.

Manila ran the 1 1/2 miles on a firm course in a slow time of 2:27 4/5, but the last quarter was raced in 23 2/5 seconds. Manila returned $3.80, $3 and $2.40.

Wise Times used a strong stretch run to win the $500,000 Super Derby VII at Louisiana Downs in Bossier City, La.

Wise Times, the 8-5 favorite ridden by Eddie Maple, rallied from 10 lengths behind at the first turn and from fourth place at the head of the stretch to overtake Cheapskate. The win was by a half-length over Cheapskate and Southern Halo, who finished in a dead heat for second.

It was the third straight Grade I stakes victory for Wise Times, a 3-year-old who also won the Travers at Saratoga and the Haskell at Monmouth Park.

Wise Times ran the 1 miles in 2:04 and earned $300,000, bringing his career total to $817,718. Wise Times paid $3.40, $2.40 and $2.40.