Susan Moulton's Manny Wah benefitted from a well-timed ride by jockey Corey Lanerie in Friday's Grade 2, $350,000 Phoenix Stakes at Keeneland. The 6-year-old son of Will Take Charge was last near the outside of the field at the head of the lane, but dove to the rail and dug in gamely for a neck victory over Long Range Toddy at odds of 17-1. It was just the fifth career win for Manny Wah, trained through 34 starts by Wayne Catalano.
“This horse had a lot of bad luck,” Catalano said. “He could have won a few more races. Today, the race, the trip – Corey (Lanerie) gave him one and the horse does what he does; he tries all the time. He's one of our favorite horses in the barn. Everybody loves him and he loves everybody. He's a people's horse. I'm just so happy for Shane (Sellers) and (owner) Miss Susan (Moulton) and the whole crew and everybody that helped me get to where I am today.”
Manny Wah completed six furlongs over the fast main track in 1:10.31, earning an expenses-paid berth to the Breeders' Cup Sprint next month at Keeneland.
“That's kind of what we're all in this for, when you get to these big races,” Catalano continued. “That's what we do. I'm very happy and blessed to have this opportunity, once again. I couldn't have done it for a better person than Susan and Shane. It's a great team.”
The full order of finish was as follows: Manny Wah, Long Range Toddy, Top Gunner, Sibelius, Baytown Bear, Necker Island, Sir Alfred James, and Special Reserve.
“I just rode my horse,” said Lanerie. “Wayne told me to ride him with confidence, and I spoke with Shane (Sellers) earlier and he said, 'Just ride him like you know how to ride him and he'll come running. Hopefully the pace falls apart.' When I saw him in the post parade today I thought he looked even better than when I rode him last time, and I know he likes this track, so I just rode with him with a lot of confidence. I just let him catch his stride. Turning for home, to be honest with you, I didn't know if I was going to catch them, but when he saw that last little hole, he hit another gear and he was going to get home.”
Bred in Kentucky by Martha Jane Mulholland & Modo Tesio Equine, LLC, Manny Wah is out of the Grade 1-placed, stakes-winning Proud Citizen mare Battlefield Angel. He was a $175,000 yearling purchase at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July sale, and has built up a record of 5-9-6 from 34 starts for earnings of $791,355.
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