Desert Blanc rallied strongly in between horses to secure a narrow victory in the $500,000 Woodford Reserve Manhattan Handicap (gr. I) this afternoon at Belmont Park.
Ridden to victory by Ramon Dominguez, Desert Blanc settled right in behind the leaders early on as Hudson Steele set an uncontested pace of :24.62 and :49.42. Papaw Bodie was right behind in second, followed closely by Brilliant Speed on the outside and Desert Blanc on the inside. Omayad, Al Khali, and Boisterous were the early trailers.
Rounding the far turn, Hudston Steele continued to lead the way through a mile in 1:36.80 before kicking away from the field turning for home. In deep stretch, he appeared capable of winning the race in wire-to-wire fashion, but Desert Blanc and Desert Blanc both closed furiously in the final sixteenth of a mile to finish 1-2, separated by a mere nose.
Boisterous came on strongly to finished third, a little more than a length behind the first two finishers, while Hudson Steele held on to fourth place. The final time was a quick 1:59.65.
The winner is trained by Chad Brown, who will saddle Street Life in the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) later this afternoon.
-Keelerman
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