When she stepped onto the track at Saratoga Race Course Wednesday afternoon for 92nd running of the Grade 2, $150,000 Adirondack Stakes, she had another pleasant surprise in store. Sent off as the fifth choice at $8.70-$1 in the field of eight two-year-old fillies, the dark bay daughter of Storm Boot popped out on top and was never threatened as she ran off to a seven-length win over Doremifasolatido.
Under jockey Alan Garcia, aboard for the first time, Mani Bhaven was a little fractious in the gate, but hit the ground running, zipping through uncontested fractions of 22.36, 46.10 and 1:11.15 before pulling clear to hit the wire in 1:18.09 for the six and one-half furlongs.
“When the starter opened the gate, she was going right to the lead,” said Garcia. “After that, she was gone.”
Pretty Prolific closed from last for third, a nose behind Doremifasolatido, while even-money favorite Bold Union was a non-threatening fourth after having won her first two starts.
“We were sitting on the rail right behind the winner, and I knew we were in good shape,” said Stewart Elliott, aboard the beaten favorite. “My only concern was, at the gate, I wanted to get out sooner than I did. But, as it turned out, it didn’t matter. The winner was just gone. My filly, she hung in there. I thought I would get a little better finish out of her, but it was her first time going this far.”
Added trainer Kelly Breen of the favorite, who was coming off a 9 ¾ length score in the Astoria: “She didn’t run her race. I don’t know if she was trapped on the inside or if it was something else, but she didn’t fire.”
Completing the order of finish behind Bold Union was Simplify, Garden District, Dorothy’s Essence, and Golden Artemis.
Mani Bhaven, who earned $90,000 for her owners, returned $19.40 to her backers in the crowd of 19,961.
“She has amazing quickness and my feeling is she would be out front,” said Klesaris. “She showed a lot of ability and I really expected her to run well.”
ADIRONDACK QUOTES
Winning trainer Steve Klesaris of Mani Bhavan (No. 8): “She was all in Alan’s hands. She has amazing quickness and my feeling was she would be out front. She showed a lot of ability and I really expected her to run well. She ran a little better than I expected. It’s nice when you have a pleasant surprise like her.”
Winning jockey Alan Garcia: “My filly was a little nervous in the gate. When [the starter] opened the door to the gate, she was going right to the lead. After that, she was gone.”
Kelly Breen, trainer of beaten favorite and fourth-place finisher Bold Union (No. 2): “She didn't run her race. I don't know if she was trapped on the inside or if it was something else, but she didn't fire.”
Stewart Elliott, jockey of Bold Union: “We were sitting on the rail right behind the winner, and I know we were in good shape. My only concern was, at the gate, I wanted to get out sooner than I did. But as it turned out, it didn’t matter. The winner was just gone. My filly, she hung in there. I thought I would get a little bit better finish out of her, but it was her first time going this far. ”
