Mission Approved wins the Manhattan Handicap
June 11, 2011NEW YORK (AP) - Mission Approved pulled off a front-running shocker Saturday in the $400,000 Manhattan Handicap, the richest race on the Belmont Stakes undercard.
Jose Espinoza guided the 7-year-old to the 21-1 upset. Mission Approved, making his first start since last July, shot right to the front on the rain-soaked turf course. He remained in command throughout, beating Bim Bam by 1 1/4 lengths with Gio Ponti, the 7-5 favorite, third.
Mission Approved is owned and trained by Naipaul Chatterpaul, who claimed the horse for $35,000 exactly one year ago.
The time was 2:06.32 for the 1 1/4 miles on the yielding course.
It's Tricky pulled an upset in the $300,000 Acorn for 3-year-old fillies, holding off 3-5 favorite Turbulent Descent by 3 3/4 lengths in the mud.
It's Tricky paid $22 to win, improving to 4 for 5. Her lone defeat was a fourth-place finish in the Gulfstream Park Oaks. Eddie Castro was aboard for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin as she ran the mile in 1:35.48.
McLaughlin won a second stakes in the next race as Trappe Shot powered to an 8 1/2-length win over This Ones for Phil in the $250,000 True North Stakes. John Velazquez rode the 4-year-old to his sixth win in nine starts.
Trappe Shot paid $4.60 to win as the 6-5 favorite. The time was 1:08.86 for the six furlongs.
Justin Phillip got his first stakes win in the $250,000 Woody Stephens Stakes for 3-year-olds, beating J J's Lucky Train by 3 3/4 lengths. Ramon Dominguez guided the Steve Asmussen-trained colt to his third win in 10 starts.
Justin Phillips ran the seven furlongs in 1:23.56 and paid $10.80 to win.
C.S. Silk won the Just A Game for fillies and mares on the turf, paying $27.20 for the three-length upset of Fantasia.
Javier Castellano guided the 5-year-old to her seventh win in 24 starts. Trained by Dale Romans, C.S. Silk ran the mile in 1:40.53.