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Rubber Match for ‘Liam,’ ‘Spending’ in Manhattan

At the conclusion of the May 1 GI Old Forestor Bourbon Turf Classic at Churchill Downs there was no room to spare between Robert and Lawana Low's Colonel Liam (Liam's Map) and Klaravich Stables' Domestic Spending (Kingman {GB}) who crossed the wire in unison and the duo will attempt to separate themselves in Saturday's GI Resorts World Casino Manhattan S. at Belmont. Domestic Spending is trained by Chad Brown, who has won the 1 1/2-mile race on seven occasions, including the last two most recent renewals.

On the board in all five starts at three, including a win on the Saratoga Derby Invitational, Domestic Spending rounded out the year with a score in the GI Hollywood Derby at Del Mar in November. Given some time off, he returned to dead heat with Colonel Liam last time.

“He seems to be doing really well and came out of his last race super,” Brown said of the colt, who will break from post 4 with Flavien Prat back in the irons. “He's been breezing like a timepiece, so I think we're in good shape. He ran a faster race than the horse he dead-heated with in the Turf Classic. We're confident he'll run a good race.”

Brown also saddles Group 2 winner Master Piece (Chi) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), MGISP Rockemperor (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) and Tribhuvan (Fr) (Toronado {Ire}), winner of the May 1 GII Fort Marcy S.

Trying to take down Team Brown, Colonel Liam, who finished fourth behind Domestic Spending in last summer's Saratoga Derby, kicked off his winning skein in December with a confident victory in Gulfstream's Tropical Park Derby before eking out a win in the 9 1/2-furlong GI Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational at that venue in January. Prior to his Turf Classic tie, he proved best in the GII Muniz Memorial Classic S. Fair Grounds in March.

“It's a very deep race and a very good race, arguably the strongest on the card,” said trainer Todd Pletcher of the Manhattan. “Colonel Liam is doing great and he's run well every time; we expect him to do the same again.”

He added, “I think he thought he had [the Turf Classic] won last time and he may have idled a touch when he got to the lead. Depending on the pace scenario, I don't see too much pace. He may find himself closer and possibly on the lead. We'll play it by ear and let him do his thing.”

Ridden by Irad Ortiz, Jr., the grey will break from Post 10.

Calumet Farm's Channel Cat (English Channel) comes into this off a career-high score in Belmont's GI Man O' War S. May 8. The 6-year-old was able to withstand the oncoming 2020 GI Belmont Derby winner Gufo (Declaration of War) by a nose at the wire.

“I'm only just getting to know the horse, but he seems to really be coming around in the short time I've had him,” said Jack Sisterson, who took over Channel Cat's training in late 2020. “He was second in the [GII] Elkhorn [S. at Keeneland Apr. 17] and we wanted to give him time to come back for the Manhattan, but he put on 50 pounds after the Elkhorn and his coat was coming around. If horses could talk, he was telling us he wanted to run again. So, we ran him back quick.”

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Knicks Ready to Go in Met Mile

Korea Racing Authority's Knicks Go (Paynter) will try to return to his winning ways Saturday in Belmont's GI Hill 'N' Dale Metropolitan H., a 'Win and You're In' event for the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile at Del Mar this fall. Riding a four-race unbeaten streak, including the GI Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Mile in November and the GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational Jan. 23, the grey finished fourth most recently behind Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) in the Feb. 20 GI Saudi Cup.

“We had to contend with a trip to the Middle East and back,” said Brad Cox. “He seemed to recover really well. We were pointing him for the race at Lone Star in the [GIII] Sexton Mile [May 31], but with the defection of Charlatan, it gave us enough confidence to put our name in the hat for the Met Mile. I think this will be a good experience for the horse. He breezed extremely well Sunday [May 30] [Churchill Downs, 5f, :59.80] and had a huge gallop out. I feel like we're in a good spot with him and going the right way.”

Joel Rosario retains the mount from the outermost post 6.

Cash is King and LC Racing's Mischevious Alex (Into Mischief), undefeated in three starts this term, exits an impressive 5 1/2-length score in the seven-furlong GI Carter H. at the Big A Apr. 3.

Prior to that, the Saffie Joseph Jr. trainee annexed a Gulfstream optional claimer Jan. 10 before adding a win in the GIII Gulfstream Park Sprint S. Feb. 13. During his sophomore season, he also won the GIII Swale S. and GIII Gotham S. while under the tutelage of trainer John Servis.

“In my opinion, he's the leader of the sprint division, but we run a mile this time, so it's going to be a big test,” said Joseph, Jr. “This is the time to try it and if he's able to accomplish it, it will be a great thing for his resume as a stallion.”

In regards to the distance, Joseph Jr. added, “I'm cautiously optimistic. He's lethal at six or seven furlongs because he can make the lead or sit if he needs to. At a mile, I feel it's within his reach and he's capable of it, so we'll give it a try. The way he won last time gives you optimism, but he has to go over and do it to make me a believer.”

Also riding a winning skein heading into Saturday's test, Silver State (Hard Spun) gets a class test while trying top-tier company for the first time. After closing out 2020 with a pair of seven-eighth victories in Kentucky, he kicked off 2021 with a narrow score in Oaklawn's Fifth Season S. Jan. 23 before adding the Mar. 13 Essex H. Stretched to nine panels for his latest in the Apr. 17 GII Oaklawn H., the 4-year-old came home a narrow winner Fearless (Ghostzapper). Regular pilot Ricardo Santana Jr. rejoins the Steve Asmussen trainee Saturday.

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Brown Seeks Fifth Straight Just a Game Win

Chad Brown has won the last four renewals of Belmont's GI Longines Just a Game S. and has four chances to take him home his fifth Saturday. Leading the quartet is last out GII Churchill Distaff Turf Mile heroine Blowout (GB) (Dansili {GB}). Prior to that victory, the bay missed by a neck in to Sweet Bye and Bye (Sky Mesa) in a Saratoga optional claimer last August and came up a neck short again in Belmont's GIII Noble Damsel S. in Septemer. She was defeated by a nose in Del Mar's GI Matriarch S. Nov. 29 and returned to winning ways May 1 at Churchill.

“Flavien [Prat] really gets along with her well,” Brown said. “We saw that in the Matriarch. He has great hands and she can be difficult, but he really gets along with her and timed it right. She likes this track very much. She ran one of the best races I've ever had a horse run in defeat that day [in the Noble Damsel], when she got away from Johnny [Velazquez] and went :44 and kept going. I don't know how she was still there at the end. If she can settle at all, she has a good closing kick. She has run well on good ground in the past, but I prefer for it to be firm.”

While Blowout is most comfortable on the front end, her barnmate Tamahere (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) prefers to come from behind. Rallying to victory in this venue's GII Sands Point S. in October, the bay was sixth in the Matriarch and second last out in Keeneland's GI Jenny Wiley S. over a yielding course Apr. 10.

“This filly would be no shock to win this race, either,” Brown said. “She's going to really appreciate the cut back to a mile and she loves Belmont. She's been training very well and is a legitimate contender here.”

Juddmonte homebred Pocket Square (GB) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) is already a Group 3 winner in France and seeks her second win on these shores after taking a Keeneland allowance Apr. 7.

Rounding out the Brown contingent is Regal Glory (Animal Kingdom), who scratched out of Thursday's GIII Intercontinental S. in favor of this spot. She enters off victories in the GIII Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf S. in September and Aqueduct's Apr. 11 Plenty of Grace S.

The biggest threat to the Brown crew is likely to come from the Charlie Appleby-trained Godolphin duo of Summer Romance (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) and Althiqa (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}). Winner of the G3 Princess Elizabeth S. at Epsom in July, Summer Romance was off the board in both the Aug. 1 G1 Prix Rothschild and the Jan. 28 G2 Cape Verdi S., which was won by the aforementioned Althiqa. Summer Romance enters off a victory in the G2 Balanchine S. at Meydan Feb. 18, in which her traveling companion finished third.

“They all traveled over well and have trained well since they've been there,” Charlie Appleby said. “There's been a little rain and the track's very wet this weekend. The fillies are fit and well and have plenty of experience under their belt. The reason we went to America is they carry Group 2 penalties here in Europe for the forthcoming season and the Group 1 older fillies races aren't until later in the year, anyway, so we thought it might be a good opportunity to get a Grade I.”

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Bound For Nowhere Headlines Jaipur

Hard-knocking turf sprint specialist Bound For Nowhere (The Factor) seeks Grade I glory Saturday in the GI Jackpot Jaipur S. at Belmont, a “Win and You're In” for the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint S. Missing by a head in the GIII San Simeon S. at Santa Anita in March of 2020, the 7-year-old was a close third after leading the way in Keeneland's GII Shakertown S. that July. Benched following that effort, the bay resurfaced in the Shakertown, which returned to its usual spot on the calendar in early April.

“He's had a lot of minor issues along the way that's taken a lot of time to get to the races, which is why he's only had 15 total starts in his career, but this year he really turned the corner,” said conditioner Wesley Ward. “Each and every work is better than I've ever seen. He's always been the type of horse that wouldn't put much effort into his works. He's not letting anyone outwork him when he's in company. His times are significantly better than in the past. As you go into these big races, you're always dealing with issues. This time we're dealing with zero issues.”

Got Stormy (Get Stormy) has defeated males before and she takes them on again in this spot. Winner of the 2019 GI Fourstardave H., the chestnut was second in last year's renewal before winning the GIII Kentucky Downs Ladies Sprint S. in September and the GIII Buffalo Trace Franklin County S. in October. Off the board in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint S. Nov. 7 at Keeneland, the 6-year-old opened 2021 with a win in the GIII Honey Fox S. Feb. 27 and was fifth last time in the GII Churchill Distaff Turf Mile S. May 1.

“She likes to have a target,” said trainer Mark Casse. “A lot of times in these mile races, the pace isn't fast enough for her to have a target and we're hoping that won't be the case going three quarters.”

Fast Boat (City Zip) looks to make it three in a row Saturday as he takes on Grade I company for the first time. Capturing the Pulse Power Turf Sprint S. at Sam Houston Jan. 31, the gelding rallied to victory in the GII Twin Spires Turf Sprint S. Apr. 30.

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