Manhattan District Stakes

The second graded race on the card for this Sunday in New York, and the highlight race of the day will be the Manhattan District Stakes (G2) over seven furlongs on the main dirt track. The race, with a purse of $375,000 will be open to three-year-old fillies only. The race, set to a post time of 3:05 PM EST looks like it will be run over a fast track and has attracted nine fillies for this year’s field. Let’s run through this year’s contenders. 

1. Spiro Guapo (AUS) – deyoto8 – C. Johnson – 9/1 

Spending most of her career on the turf, the Australian-bred filly has made just one start over the dirt, which came in her most recent start across the country in California during an allowance race over seven furlongs. The bay filly was held just off the pace in fourth and was urged forward the stretch to cross the wire third with a speed figure of ninety-five. The most recent win for the filly came in her two-year-old debut during a maiden special weight in South Africa, which she won by three-quarter lengths. She has won in several graded stakes, including the More Glare Stakes (G1) and The Chevel (G1), both of which earned the filly second place finishes. 

2. Fly Away Jazz (ARG) – utahjazz1 – C. Gerhke – 4/1 

A Grade III winner in her last start, the light grey Argentian-bred mare has had an impressive record as of late. Throughout her nine-race career, the filly has finished off the board only once. By Zensational and out of a stakes placed broodmare, the filly most recently started in the Cadoka Stakes (G3). She won the seven furlong race in gate to wire fashion, setting a speed figure of one hundred two, which was a lifetime best for the grey filly. Her only other graded start came in the Yanta Snez Stakes (G2) where she finished third over good dirt track. 

3. Best Brains Around – redhill28 – Z. Ayya – 6/1 

Making her graded stakes debut this weekend, this chestnut filly is by Triple Crown winning sire American Pharoah and is out of a Grade II winning broodmare by Speightstown. She is lightly raced with just five starts under her belt and is coming into this weekends race with two consecutive wins. The most recent start for the filly came in Illinois during a listed stakes race over seven and a half furlongs. Stalking the early pace in third, the filly was urged to make her move in the stretch and went on to win her stakes debut by one-quarter of a length, equaling a lifetime best speed figure of ninety-six, set in her prior race, which was an allowance over seven furlongs. 

4. Unknown Island – falcondakota – B. Scott – 6/1 

Making a return to graded stakes after stepping down in class to listed stakes for several starts, this chestnut Kentucky-bred filly most recently started in Mexico during a listed stakes race over seven and a half furlongs. Held off the pace in third, she started to make a move midway through the race and went on to win by a length and a half with a speed figure of ninety-eight, which was a lifetime best. The most recent graded start for the filly was in November of last year during the Mistaken Soda Identity Stakes (G3) over a mile and one-sixteenth where she finished twelfth.  

5. Zappote – tarton10 – D. Raymond – 5/1 

Midway through the field, we have this filly by Ghostzapper who is an accomplished Grade II winner. Making her eleventh lifetime start this weekend, the bay filly last started in Kentucky during the Iool Stakes (G1) at a mile and one-sixteenth. Forwardly placed in third out of the gate, the filly faded to eleventh at the wire, setting a speed figure of ninety-four. The most recent win for the filly came in California during the Yanta Snez (G2) at seven furlongs, which she won in wire-to-wire fashion by a length and a quarter over a good dirt track.  

6. Chucks Shot – derekcarlson6 – D. Carlson – 9/1 

In the six-slot, the Florida-bred brown filly will be making her third consecutive graded start. The most recent start for the filly came in Florida during The Girl Up Front (G2) at seven furlongs. Sixth out of the gate, she was urged forward in the stretch but wasn’t able to make up too much ground as she crossed the wire fifth, though setting a lifetime best speed figure of ninety-five. The most recent win for the filly was here in New York during a listed stakes race at seven furlongs. The filly was a little more forwardly placed in this race, fourth out of the gate, and went on to win by one and a half lengths. 

7. OG Cat – 59flat –I. Thomas – 10/1 

Making a return to graded races in her first start in graded company since last October, the brown filly by Authentic most recently started in Florida during a listed stakes race at a mile. Breaking late out of the gate, the filly was never able to recover from her poor start and crossed the wire in eleventh, setting a speed figure of eighty-seven. Though securing two allowance placements over the one mile mark, the connections of the filly have decided to take her back to sprinting, hoping that that will be more suited to the filly, as she has also won over shorter distances. The most recent graded start for the filly was in the Happy Halloween (G1) at seven and a half furlongs, in which she finished seventh. 

8. Undisputed Elite – rdyplyr1 – W. Jenkins – 4/1 

By top sire Tapit, the light grey filly is out of the Hall of Fame winning and million-dollar earning broodmare Barden Bella, who has produced two graded winners. The filly will be taking a big step up in class this weekend as she goes from allowance races into graded company, although this is her second attempt at graded caliber races. The filly most recently started across the country in California during a seven furlong allowance race. She won the race, going gate to wire and recorded a lifetime best speed figure of one hundred two after winning by one length. September of her two-year-old season saw her only graded start to date, which was in the Walnut Tree Stakes (G1) at a mile and one-sixteenth where the filly finished eighth. 

9. Darth Talon – desertdog18 – N. Lawton – 6/1 

The last to go into the starting gate on Sunday, drawing the far outside post, will be this chestnut filly by Speightstown, who is already a Grade II winner. The striking filly is out of the Hall of Fame broodmare, Senorita Caballo, who won the 2020 Breeders’ Bowl F & M Sprint. Of three runners produced to date, this filly is the only graded winner. The filly most recently started in Oregon during the Cadoka Stakes (G3) at seven furlongs. Sent out of the gate off the pace early, as is her usual running style, the filly never kicked in when asked and came home to finish eighth at the wire. The most recent win for the filly was in September of her two-year-old season when she won The Motherly Love (G2) at seven furlongs here in New York over a sloppy track.

Flrancho’s Picks: 

Win: Fly Away Jazz (ARG) 

Place: Zappote 

Show: Best Brains Around