The $600,000 Man o' War Stakes (gr. I) was originally supposed to feature Point of Entry, the very talented five-time grade I winner that won the Man o' War in 2012. Unfortunately, an injury suffered last month kept the turf star from defending his title, and so it was up to stablemate Boisterous to step in and save the day, which he did so decisively this afternoon at Belmont Park.
Ridden to victory John Velazquez, Boisterous was content to settle back in fifth place during the early stages of the eleven-furlong race, about seven or eight lengths behind runaway leader Folk Singer. Speaking of Which and Twilight Eclipse were racing together in second, followed on the outside by Optimizer. Finnegans Wake was back in sixth, while Al Khali and Exclusive Strike were the trailers.
Folk Singer, at odds of 88-1, was running well to lead through fractions of :23.44, :48.07, and 1:13.06, but was caught shortly thereafter by Speaking of Which and Twilight Eclipse, who continued to race as a pair down the backstretch and into the final turn. Optimizer was looming a threat on the outside, but the real challenge was coming from Boisterous, who split horses with a powerful rally to reach contention at the top of the homestretch. Twilight Eclipse tried his best, but couldn't stay with Boisterous in the late stages, as the latter drew off to win by about two lengths while stopping the clock in 2:14.11 over a course labeled good.
Twilight Eclipse narrowly held off the late-closing Exclusive Strike for second, while Finnegans Wake, Optimizer, Al Khali, Speaking of Which, and Folk Singer completed the order of finish.
Boisterous is trained by Shug McGaughey and owned by Phipps Stable. The Man o' War marked his seventh graded stakes victory, but his first in a grade I race.
-Keelerman
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