Manhattan

It's a measure of the depth of Saturday's $400,000 Manhattan H. (G1) at

Belmont Park that the defending champion GOOD REWARD (Storm Cat) and runner-up

RELAXED GESTURE (Ire) (Indian Ridge) don't rank among the top three choices on

the morning line. In this accomplished group of nine turf performers, we'll side

with GREY SWALLOW (Ire) (Daylami [Ire]), the 2004 Irish Derby (Ire-G1) hero who

strode out an impressive five-length winner in his U.S. debut last time out in

the Jim Murray Memorial H. (G2) at Hollywood Park. The Dermot Weld charge is

facing much stiffer competition here as he cuts back in distance to 1 1/4 miles,

but we believe that this top-class individual can handle his assignment. He's

been working sharply over the course and appears to be coming into the race in

peak condition. The lack of early pace won't hurt him, as the Jim Murray proved

that he can stalk closely and pounce. Alex Solis returns to the saddle.

Relaxed Gesture has never been off the board on the Belmont turf, and he was

arguably unlucky when second in last year's Manhattan. Swung out extremely wide,

the chestnut showed a blinding turn of foot late and just fell short by a

half-length. He had a few other close finishes last season before breaking

through with a dynamic 4 1/2-length score in the Canadian International S.

(Can-G1) on yielding ground, leaving Grey Swallow and subsequent Dubai World Cup

(UAE-G1) hero Electrocutionist (Red Ransom) well behind him and earning a 108

BRIS Speed rating in the process. The Christophe Clement trainee disappointed in

his lone start of 2006, the Dubai Sheema Classic (UAE-G1), in which he raced

forwardly before backing up to a dismal 12th. Relaxed Gesture has had a steady

series of half-mile breezes since returning to America, and we expect to see him

back to his best here, especially with the likely soft conditions. Kent

Desormeaux picks up the mount.

ENGLISH CHANNEL (Smart Strike) has captured both of his starts this season in

fine style, the Canadian Turf H. and most recently the Woodford Reserve Turf

Classic S. (G1), defeating CACIQUE (Ire) (Danehill) in the latter. The Todd

Pletcher colt has posted century-topping Speed figures in his last six races,

including a field-best 113 when fifth in last year's Breeders' Cup Turf (G1).

With his tactical speed, English Channel should be up close early, and he'll be

tough to run down. John Velazquez will reunite with the four-year-old, whom he

had ridden regularly until missing his last outing through injury.

DREADNAUGHT (Lac Ouimet) ran a terrific race when runner-up in the recent

Dixie S. (G2), rallying strongly and just missing against the top-notch Better

Talk Now (Talkin Man) with Artie Schiller (El Prado [Ire]) third. Although he

hasn't won a Grade 1 himself, the fact that he split a pair of Breeders' Cup

winners while racking up a 108 Speed figure suggests that he's capable of

landing a prize in elite company. Our main concern is that he is a one-run

closer, and without an honest pace up front, he could be compromised. Still, the

six-year-old gelding rates as a must-use in the exotics at a juicy 15-1 on the

morning line. Garrett Gomez will ride the Thomas Voss charge, who will race with

blinkers off this time and gets in with only 115 pounds, seven fewer than Grey

Swallow and English Channel.

Cacique could improve with this step up in distance, as he was a

fast-finishing fourth in the Frank E. Kilroe Mile H. (G1) and a closing second

in the 1 1/8-mile Woodford Reserve. In his only previous attempt at the trip

when trained in France, he was a battling runner-up to the brilliant Bago in the

2004 Grand Prix de Paris (Fr-G1). Edgar Prado will partner the Bobby Frankel

trainee for the first time.

Good Reward has not won since his victory in the 2005 running of this race,

in which he benefited from a dream passage along the rail. In fact, in five

subsequent outings, he's hit the board only once, a third in the Maker's Mark

Mile S. (G2) two starts back. The Phipps homebred is better than that recent

record implies, and his return to his ideal distance may work wonders for him.

Javier Castellano takes the call, as Prado preferred Cacique.

Last time out, SILVER WHISTLE (Alphabet Soup) showed determination to prevail

by a neck in the Pan American H. (G3), but this is his first foray into Grade 1

company, and we're not convinced he's up to the task. SABRE D'ARGENT (Kris S.)

was a non-threatening fourth in the Dixie, and even though he was

three-for-three at the trip against weaker opposition during his English career,

he would have to step up a lot on his bare form to threaten. INTERPATATION (Langfuhr)

appears out of his depth.