Manny Wah Catches Long Range Toddy Late For Upset | 2022 Phoenix Stakes Replay & Reaction

The Racing Dudes react to Manny Wah winning the 2022 Stoll Ogden Phoenix Stakes (G2) at Keeneland, a “Win & You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. The Wayne Catalano rallied late to catch Long Range Toddy in the shadow of the wire and pull the massive upset. Watch the replay for the Racing Dudes’ INSTANT reactions, then tell us YOUR thoughts in the Comments section!

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The track press release:

Susan Moulton’s Manny Wah rallied along the rail to catch Long Range Toddy in the shadow of the wire to win the 170^th running of the $350,000 Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix (G2) by a neck.

Trained by Wayne Catalano and ridden by Corey Lanerie, Manny Wah covered the 6 furlongs on the fast main track in 1:10.31.

With the victory, Manny Wah earned a spot in the starting gate for the $2 million Qatar Racing Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) to be run here Nov. 5. Catalano won the race last year at Del Mar with Aloha West.

Defending champion Special Reserve and Top Gunner dueled for the early lead through fractions of :22.08 and :44.75 as Manny Wah raced at the back of the eight-horse field. At the top of the stretch, Top Gunner took over and opened a daylight advantage while drifting toward the middle of the track.

With room to the inside, Long Range Toddy mounted the first challenge while to his inside Manny Wah was angling between Long Range Toddy and Baytown Bear for a clear path to the finish.

The victory was worth $208,863 and increased Manny Wah’s earnings to $791,355 with a record of 34-5-9-6. It is the first graded stakes win for Manny Wah, a 6-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Will Take Charge out of the Proud Citizen mare Battlefield Angel.

Manny Wah returned $37.14, $11.88 and $6.96. Long Range Toddy, ridden by Paco Lopez, returned $16.14 and $8.14 and finished a neck in front of Top Gunner, who paid $6.48 to show under Rey Gutierrez.

Favored Sibelius finished another 1½ lengths back in fourth and was followed in order by Baytown Bear, Necker Island, Sir Alfred James and Special Reserve. 

Quotes From The $350,000 Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix (G2)

Click here for a replay of the race and the post-race interview with winning connections.

Wayne Catalano (winning trainer of Manny Wah)

“This horse had a lot of bad luck. He could have won a few more races. Today, the race, the trip – Corey (Lanerie) gave him one and the horse does what he does; he tries all the time. He’s one of our favorite horses in the barn. Everybody loves him and he loves everybody. He’s a people’s horse. I’m just so happy for Shane (Sellers) and (owner) Miss Susan (Moulton) and the whole crew and everybody that helped me get to where I am today.”

On what it means to have secured a spot in the $2 million Qatar Racing Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) at Keeneland: 

“That’s kind of what we’re all in this for, when you get to these big races. That’s what we do. I’m very happy and blessed to have this opportunity, once again. I couldn’t have done it for a better person than Susan and Shane. It’s a great team.”

Corey Lanerie (winning jockey)

“I just rode my horse. Wayne told me to ride him with confidence, and I spoke with Shane (Sellers) earlier and he said, ‘Just ride him like you know how to ride him and he’ll come running. Hopefully the pace falls apart.’ When I saw him in the post parade today I thought he looked even better than when I rode him last time, and I know he likes this track, so I just rode with him with a lot of confidence. I just let him catch his stride. Turning for home, to be honest with you, I didn’t know if I was going to catch them, but when he saw that last little hole, he hit another gear and he was going to get home.”

Paco Lopez (rider of runner-up Long Range Toddy)

“After the break, I had to settle behind (fast early fractions). But when the horse came off the rail, I was able to make a move. My horse responded great in the stretch. But the inside horse (Manny Way) had the advantage, and it was too late.”
 

Rey Gutierrez (rider of third-place finisher Top Gunner)

“It was a really good trip. Special Reserve is a tough horse to follow. My horse really was game toward the end. He showed that he belonged in the Breeders’ Cup today and I’m just really proud of him. He ran really good today against some really tough horses.”

Jeremiah O’Dwyer (trainer of fourth-place finisher Sibelius)

“He broke a little slower than ideal, and we were farther back than we wanted to be early. He stayed on and ran even the whole way. They were going fast fractions, and he was laying just behind them. I would have liked to see him break better, but he ran his race and we were not disappointed. If he had won, we’d take a shot at the Breeders’ Cup for sure but he was fourth. We’ll have a chat with the owners and make a decision from there.”

Junior Alvarado (rider of Sibelius)

“I had a pretty decent trip. They went pretty quick in front. I was stuck on the outside, and when we turned for home he was just even the whole way.”