Boisterous is The Favorite For Man O' War

Category : News - Thu 11/07/2013 - 12:11 EDT

Shug McGaughey’s steady campaigner, Boisterous, will take another shot at a Grade I title this Saturday when he takes on seven others in the $600,000 Man O’ War, for three-year-olds and up, going 1 3/8 miles on the Belmont turf. The race is the feature event for closing weekend at Belmont to conclude the 2013 spring/summer meet. For trainer McGaughey, it will be a chance to win his second straight Man O’ War after capturing the 2012 race with Point of Entry.

Looking to add to graded-stakes titles

For Boisterous, a six-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Distorted Humor, this will be his second crack at the Man O’ War, after finishing third in the 2011 race. Since his last  Grade I attempt, the Arlington Million where he finished a well-beaten ninth, Boisterous has racked up five straight firsts or seconds in lower-graded events, and most recently won the Grade II Monmouth Stakes, the tenth win in 24 starts for his career.  For the Man O’ War, Boisterous has been installed as the morning line favorite at 9-5 and will break from post six under jockey John Velazquez.

Optimizer, Twilight Eclipse expected to challenge

The early second choice in the field is the Wayne Lukas-trained Optimizer, listed at 2-1. A two-time Breeders’ Cup World Championships participant, who also ran in the 2012 Belmont Stakes, the well-traveled son of English Channel most recently finished second in the Grade I Woodford Reserve Manhattan Handicap, beaten 1 ½ lengths by Point of Entry. He’ll be ridden by Joel Rosario. Other contenders in the field include Twilight Eclipse (9-2), who earlier this year set the world record time for 1 ½ miles on turf while winning the Grade II Pan American Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

Category : News

Leave a comment

More articles...
News - 04/07/23

Belmont Derby 2023: Wizard of Westwood can get magical front-end trip

Belmont Derby 2023: Wizard of Westwood can get magical front-end trip

The Grade 1 Belmont Derby on Saturday, July 8 is the highlight of the summer three-year-old turf racing season. The $1 million race drew a field of 11 contenders, with […]

Read this article
News - 08/06/23

National Treasure can wire New York's most prestigious race

National Treasure can wire New York's most prestigious race

The most exciting race of the year in New York is coming up on Saturday, June 10 and you can be a part of it by betting the Belmont Stakes! […]

Read this article
News - 02/05/23

Kentucky Derby: All Systems Go for Rapidly Improving Mage

Kentucky Derby: All Systems Go for Rapidly Improving Mage

The Kentucky Derby is coming up on Saturday, May 6 at Churchill Downs. It is the first jewel of the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred racing: and if you plan on […]

Read this article
News - 06/04/23

Santa Anita Derby 2023: Geaux Rocket Rice is on the right track

Santa Anita Derby 2023: Geaux Rocket Rice is on the right track

On Saturday, April 8, the Southern California spur of the Road to the Kentucky Derby reaches its dramatic conclusion with the Santa Anita Derby! Covering 1 ⅛ miles on the […]

Read this article