Susan Moulton's grade 2 winner Manny Wah is poised to become a millionaire in the $300,000 Commonwealth Stakes (G3) April 6 at Keeneland.
The seven-furlong dirt race for 4-year-olds and up drew a field of nine. It contains a mix of veterans such as 8-year-old Manny Wah and 2023 Commonwealth winner Here Mi Song, plus some progressive 4- and 5-year-olds.
Manny Wah has run 44 times, including two tries in the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1). He was fifth in the 2020 Sprint and fourth in 2022. Both of those editions were at Keeneland, also the site of his most important win, the 2022 Phoenix Stakes (G2).
Manny Wah's earnings stand at $990,244. Trainer Will Walden, who took over Manny Wah from Wayne Catalano late last year, said the son of Will Take Charge is the ultimate professional.
"He goes out every day and trains and doesn't turn a hair. He's one of the classiest horses I've been around," Walden said. "They tried to retire him once, and he tore the field down. He loves his job.
"The only instructions I got with this horse when I got him from Susan was, 'See if you can make him a millionaire. Not for me, but for him, he's earned it.' "
Flavien Prat has the mount on Manny Wah.
Other Contenders
There are several 4-year-olds that could have upside in the Commonwealth. Andrew Farm and For the People Racing's Wico is stakes placed for trainer Wesley Ward. The No Nay Never colt won an allowance race by 4 3/4 lengths here going seven furlongs on Oct. 28.
Rania and Andrew N. Warren's grade 3 winner Raise Cain, by Violence , ran eighth in the 2023 Kentucky Derby (G1) and later captured the Perryville Stakes at this course and distance. Raise Cain will be making his first start since finishing fifth in the Malibu Stakes (G1) Dec. 26 at Santa Anita Park for trainer Ben Colebrook.
Bo Cruz, owned in partnership by Roger Cettina, Brian Pagano, Patrick Grippo, Peter Martine, and clocker Bruno De Julio, makes his second start of the year. It will be just the seventh lifetime start for the Creative Cause colt who ran third in last year's Iowa Derby (G3) for trainer Al Stall Jr.
Call Me Fast broke his maiden going seven furlongs at Keeneland in 2021 and placed in a pair of graded stakes last year, including Keeneland's Ben Ali Stakes (G3). Owned by Giddyup Stables and Tom Lambro, the 5-year-old Dialed In gelding is making his first start since Aug. 25.
Owner Richard C. Colton Jr. had to be pleased with Minnesota Ready's 3 1/2-length win in the Colonel Power Stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots Feb. 17. It was his first run after Colton purchased the 5-year-old More Than Ready gelding for $380,000 out of the Fasig-Tipton Lothenbach Dispersal of Horses of Racing Age and transferred him to trainer Tom Amoss.
