Meteor Storm returns for Manhattan

Five-time stakes winner Artie Schiller will seek his first victory at 10 furlongs (Michael J. Marten/Horsephotos.com)

METEOR STORM (GB) (Bigstone [Ire]), a 1 1/4-length winner of last year’s
Manhattan H. (G1), will seek an encore performance in this year’s $400,000 event
in the race before Saturday’s Belmont S. (G1). However, the Wally Dollase-trained
six-year-old must overcome some talented rivals in the 11-horse field and do it
from the far outside post. Contenders for the 1 1/4-mile affair include ARTIE
SCHILLER (El Prado [Ire]), AMERICA ALIVE (American Chance), MACAW (Ire)
(Bluebird), GOOD REWARD (Storm Cat) and RELAXED GESTURE (Ire) (Indian Ridge).

Meteor Storm entered last year’s Manhattan off two straight Grade 2 wins, but
he was sidelined following his next start for eight months. He’s winless from three
appearances in 2005, but does enter off runner-up finishes in the Woodford
Reserve Turf Classic (G1) and San Luis Rey H. (G2). America Alive, whose form
began improving at the Fair Grounds over the winter, stepped up to earn his
first graded win at 17-1 in the Woodford Reserve, and the four-year-old could be
overlooked again. John Velazquez rides for trainer Neil Howard.

Artie Schiller is a three-time Grade 2 winner, including an easy score in
last year’s Jamaica H. (G2) at Belmont, and is the 122-pound highweight for the
Manhattan. The four-year-old just missed in the Dixie S. (G2) last out over
drying-out turf following a strong winning performance in his seasonal bow, the
Maker’s Mark S. (G2) at Keeneland. The James Jerkens trainee will vie for
favoritism with jockey Edgar Prado.