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Twilight Eclipse gets his Grade 1 in Man o' War

Twilight Eclipse had been second or third six times in Grade 1s before his Man o' War score (NYRA/Adam Coglianese Photography) The long and at times frustrating quest for Grade 1 glory finally ended for Twilight Eclipse (Purim) on Saturday when the six-year-old gelding outgamed War Dancer (War Front) in the final sixteenth to take the $400,000 Man o' War (G1) at Belmont Park. Rating in second behind War Dancer as that rival set fractions of :24 4/5, :50 3/5, 1:15 2/5 and 1:39 2/5 over the firm inner turf, Twilight Eclipse had a half-length to find in the final furlong. Urged on by Javier Castellano, Twilight Eclipse found enough late to win by a neck in a time of 2:14 2/5 for 1 3/8 miles. "I thought in my mind, turning for home, I could have put a little pressure on the front-runner because the pace was very slow," Castellano said. "But (Twilight Eclipse) has a short, short run and good kick. I was a little concerned about the ground, because it was a little soft, and usually that type of horse likes it very firm. But he had so much class today. He just galloped along and was right there. Turning for home, if we moved too soon, he would be hanging; if he moved too late, he wouldn't get there. At the right time, the right place, he made the move."

The 9-5 second choice in a field of six, Twilight Eclipse returned $5.90 for owner West Point Thoroughbreds and trainer Tom Albertrani.

War Dancer was three lengths clear of Hyper (Victory Gallop), who was followed by Dynamic Sky (Sky Mesa), 2014 Man o' War winner Imagining (Giant's Causeway), and Hardest Core (Hard Spun).

Twilight Eclipse earned Grade 2 wins in the 2012 W.L. McKnight H, 2013 Pan American, and 2014 Mac Diarmida, and a Grade 3 tally in a demoted W.L. McKnight in 2013, but had been repelled in numerous Grade 1 events over the years. He had finished second or third in six top-level events in 2013-14, including the 2013 Man o' War.

Last season, Twilight Eclipse placed behind eventual grass champion Main Sequence (Aldebaran) in the United Nations (G1), Sword Dancer Invitational (G1), Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1), and Breeders' Cup Turf (G1). The streak continued earlier this year when he was second by three-quarters of a length in the February 21 Mac Diarmida, and even in Main Sequence's absence could only be third as the even-money favorite in the March 28 Pan American last out.

"It's been very satisfying for everybody that's involved and for his connections to (finally) get that Grade 1," Albertrani said. "I know we've been beaten in a couple of spots but he shows up every time. I think (in previous races), the horses were just that good; you know you have horses like Main Sequence. Without a horse like (that) in the race, this horse looks like a champion himself, but to his credit he did train really well coming into this race."

Twilight Eclipse now possesses a mark of 24-7-5-4, $1,587,986. Bred in Kentucky by Epona Thoroughbreds, he was produced by My Twilight Dancer (Twilight Agenda), making him a half-brother to multiple Grade 3 winner Grand Contender (Strong Contender).

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