Despite his comfortable one-length decision in the Inaugural S. last time
Longshot Brock N Rock (Gibson County) sprinted to the fore, but Manicero was
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Bert B Don took a run at Manicero at the head of the lane, but he could not
do enough to reverse the Inaugural result. Under encouragement from Luis Saez,
Manicero pulled away by two lengths in midstretch. Although a resolute Bert B
Don tried again late, reducing the gap to a half-length at the wire, Manicero
was still in command in a final time of 1:24 2/5 for seven furlongs on Tampa’s
fast track. The winner rewarded his backers with $7.60, $3.80 and $3.
“We were in tight at the break last time (in the Inaugural),” Saez said, “but
today he broke in the clear and I was able to get the lead and get him to relax.
I didn’t have to use the speed he has. Getting into the stretch I took the lead
and was able to get off the inside, but I had to ride him hard to hold off the
late runner. He’s a good horse — very game.”
“I was just happy that we were off of the rail, but I think the track’s been
fair all day,” said Leo Azpurua Jr., who trains the colt for his father. “I’ve
seen horses win on the outside and on the inside, but it changes. I was also
very thankful that he had a clean break from the gate, because last time we had
a lot of trouble. The horse has a lot of heart. He (Saez) told me that he took
Manicero off of the rail a little bit where it was a little firmer, and he just
went on with it.”
Azpurua Jr. was full of praise for Saez, saying that he plans to keep the
reinsman aboard Manicero.
“He knows the horse very well,” the trainer added. “He has worked very hard
with this horse, and he’s done everything I’ve asked him to. He followed today’s
game plan to a T.”
Depeche Cat (Wildcat Heir), well back early, showed late interest to get up
for third, 1 1/4 lengths adrift of Bert B Don. Read the Contract wound up
fourth, followed by Imperial Czar (Imperialism), Ribo Bobo (Louis Quatorze),
Porcini Prince (Defrere) and Brock N Rock. Mas Trueno (Afleet Alex) and Ready
for More (More Than Ready) were scratched.
Manicero, whose skein commenced with a 7 3/4-length maiden win at Calder on
October 30, has now earned $189,008. The dark bay colt is four-for-five overall,
having been disqualified from third to fourth for interference in his career
debut.
Plans call for Manicero to take the next step on Tampa’s three-year-old
series, the February 12 Sam F. Davis S. (G3) at 1 1/16 miles, which would mark
his two-turn debut.
Bred by Roberto Sanson in Florida, Manicero is a half-brother to stakes
winners Puerto Plata (Alwuhush) and Delirio (Jolie’s Halo), the latter the dam
of stakes victress Poovey (Graeme Hall). Manicero also has a juvenile full
sister named Golden Bucket. They were produced by the unraced Kris S. mare Ritzy
Blitz, who is herself a half-sister to Grade 3 scorers Thunder Blitz (Holy Bull)
and A B Noodle (Alphabet Soup) as well as Indian classic queen Rain Splasher
(Placerville). Further back, this is the family of French Horse of the Year and
sire Sassafras (Fr) (Sheshoon).
Striding to the front in short order for Daniel Centeno, Devilish Lady
“I know she won like a really good filly,” Centeno said, “but I was concerned
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My Pal Chrisy (Alex’s Pal) outran her 27-1 odds to finish a clear second by 5
1/4 lengths, with Fashionable Elsa (Agnes Gold [Jpn]) likewise closing for
third. Rounding out the strung-out field were Holy Royal (Holy Bull), Ravionetta
(Touch Gold), Royale Harbor, Itcouldbesunshine (Maria’s Mon) and Miss Fifty.
Devilish Lady has now dominated in each of her past four. Starting with a 7
3/4-length decision in the November 13 Joe O’Farrell Juvenile Fillies S., she
next outclassed starter allowance opponents by five lengths on December 4, and
crushed her rivals by eight lengths in the December 26 Sandpiper in her first
start away from her Calder base. Claimed from Manny Tortora for $16,000 out of a
winning effort on September 30, Devilish Lady finished a useful third in her
debut for her new connections in the October 16 Cassidy S., and the dark bay now
sports a mark of 10-6-0-2, $216,220.
Sano mentioned that Devilish Lady would aim for the seven-furlong Forward Gal
S. (G2) at Gulfstream Park on January 30 before heading back to Tampa Bay Downs
for the Suncoast S. over one mile and 40 yards on March 12.
Bred by the Lewis Family Stables Partnership in Florida, Devilish Lady is out
of the multiple stakes-winning Devilish Brunette (Diablo), whose other foals
include the multiple stakes-placed Captain Lindsay (Mecke) and a yearling colt
by Alke. Devilish Lady has an intriguing pedigree pattern: she is inbred 2 x 3
to the full brothers Saint Ballado and Devil’s Bag.