Sent the 1-9 favourite, Manchego unhurriedly claimed command and maintained control through the mile to take the third $40,000 preliminary of the Miss Versatility.
Felicityshagwell S shot to the front while tracked by stablemate Beautiful Sin moving to the first turn. Manchego floated into fourth moving to a :27.1 opening quarter before driver Dexter Dunn tipped the five-year-old Muscle Hill mare off the pegs into the backstretch.
Manchego inched towards the top and cleared Felicityshagwell S just past a :55.1 half. Beautiful Sin—with a two-wide tier progressing—flushed first over from third midway into the final turn and drew to near equal terms with Manchego nearing three-quarters in 1:23.1. However Manchego accelerated away from her competition into the stretch, strolling to a 1:51 victory as Kenziesky Hanover closed for second and Plunge Blue Chip—kicking down the centre of the course from last—took third.
Owned by Black Horse Racing, Manchego won her third race from four starts this season and her 30th from 47 overall, earning $2,217,705. Nancy Takter trains the $2.10 winner.
The Miss Versatility was part of a stakes-packed Saturday card at The Meadowlands. Read about the rest of the action in the Meadowlands Pace News Centre.