The addition of blinkers provided Manhattan Up with the needed focus as he charged past rivals to win the Los Alamitos Special by one-and-a-half lengths on Sunday, Sept. 19.
It was the first Stakes victory for the Street Boss gelding, who was making just his second start for trainer Jonathan Wong.
A compact field of six went to the post in the Los Al Special, with favoritism landing on G2 Triple Bend Stakes winner Magic On Tap, one of two Bob Baffert trainees in the field. At the break it was Sash that went to the lead under jockey Kyle Frey, as Tiago Pereira had Manhattan up racing in between rivals in fourth through the early stages of the race.
Manhattan Up was finally able to get into the clear in the stretch, and quickly ranged up to challenge Sash for the lead. The pair continued to battle through the lane with Manhattan Up finally putting away his rival nearing the wire to post the victory.
Bred in Kentucky by Kathleen McIsaac, Manhattan Up is out of In the Frame, a winning daughter of Service Stripe. Second dam is Stakes-placed Bandeira Flick, a full sister to the multiple Stakes-placed pair of Blackstone Dreamer and Part Magic.
Manhattan Up is one of seven North American Stakes winners in 2021 for his sire Street Boss. Other Stakes winners this year include Lady War Machine (Alywow Stakes); New Boss (Pea Patch Overnight Stakes, Allen ‘Black Cat’ Lecombe Memorial Stakes); Who Took the Money (Crescent City Derby), Lady Edith (Mamzelle Stakes), three-time Stakes winner, Top Executive (Auburn Stakes, etc.) and Bienville Street (Sunshine Filly & Mare Turf Stakes).
In Australia, Street Boss is represented by Stakes winners Anamoe (G1 Sires’ Produce Stakes at two and G2 Run to the Rose Stakes at three); Arcaded (G2 Blue Diamond Fillies Prelude, G3 Magic Night); Heresy (G3 David Coles); and Street Life (Railway Stakes).
