Stanford Son Man O Rose Dominates E. B. Johnston Stakes

Cypress, CA (September 14, 2024) – Making his two-turn debut, Stanford son Man O Rose dominated the field to earn the first stakes victory of his career in the $$75,000 E. B. Johnston Stakes going one mile at Los Alamitos Race Course.

Man O Rose has been incredible versatile and successful sprinting, with six wins and two seconds, on turf and dirt, in his first eleven career starts. Today’s move up in distance adds an entire new dimension going forward. Quickly away from post three, the bay gelding had a bit of company through the opening half-mile. That was as close as they came to him. He opened up his lead at every call thereafter, galloping home under Edwin Maldanado, the easiest of winners by eight lengths.

“He broke great and had his ears forward going into the first turn,’’ said Maldonado.

Asked about the stretch out option earlier this season, winning trainer Jeff Mullins said, “We were told The Chosen Vron was going to run in the race, but then he ended up not running. We would have probably been in the Bertrando, but we were trying to avoid The Chosen Vron at the time.”

“(Maldonado) said he threw his ears forward around the first turn and that’s a sign that he’s in cruise control,” he continued. “Once he makes the lead and he’s got his ears forward it’s going to take a pretty nice horse to get by him. We have a lot of options with him now and don’t forget he can run on the grass as well.’’

Man O Rose takes his bankroll to $319,840. He is a third generation homebred for Bruce and Bevery Zeitz’s B and Be Zeitz Stables, Inc. He is out of their graded stakes-placed Good Journey mare, Kathleen Rose.