Irish-Bred Manhattan Jungle looms large in Saturday’s $100,000 Sweet Life Stakes
At 0h14, on February 11, 2023 • By SANTA ANITA
Twice Group III-placed in France and most recently a solid second here in an ungraded stakes going one mile on turf, trainer Michael McCarthy’s Irish-bred Manhattan Jungle, who will be ridden for the first time by Frankie Dettori, rates top billing among a field of 11 sophomore fillies going about 6 ½ furlongs down Santa Anita’s hillside turf course in Saturday’s $100,000 Sweet Life Stakes.
Close to the pace throughout, Manhattan Jungle was beaten 1 ½ lengths at odds of 2-1 in the Dec. 30 Blue Norther Stakes, which followed an eighth place finish in the her U.S. debut, the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Keeneland on Nov. 4.
Although she was bred in Ireland, Manhattan Jungle made six starts in France at age two, winning her first three while second and third in a pair of Group III events, both as six furlongs on turf, on Aug. 2 at Deauville and on Sept. 17 at Chantilly.
Owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Manhattan Jungle, who was well beaten in her lone start in England, a Group II at Ascot on June 15, is 9-3-2-1 overall and should be forwardly placed in her first hillside try.
