June 11, 2006
In the $400,000 Manhattan Handicap (G1) for older turf horses, 2-1 favorite Cacique took over the lead after battling with 5-2 second choice English Channel through a half in a slow 51.30, and stayed in front the rest of the way, holding off the late charge of 4-1 Relaxed Gesture by a head in a time of 2:04.10 for the 1 1/4 mile trip over the yielding inner turf course. It was just a neck back to 7-2 Grey Swallow in third, and a head to English Channel in fourth completing the four-horse blanket finish.
Results chart from DRF
Winning trainer Bobby Frankel said, "He's the kind of horse that waits on horses. He's a real fighter. I don't know that he ever saw Relaxed Gesture. I was okay with him on the lead. If you look at his form, he went wire to wire with some good horses in Europe. The family seems to love racing in the U.S. I just hope they keep sending me these kind of horses. We'll probably look at the Arlington Million [Grade 1, August 12, 10 furlongs, turf, Arlington]."
