Just Won Manhattan Left Baeza All Aglow

by Lou DeFichy

New York Herald tribune

Saturday, October 13, 1962

Elmont--Solemn Braulio Baeza broke down and smiled yesterday after winning the $58,100 Manhattan Handicap on Tutankhamen.

            Baeza wore a big grin during post-race ceremonies and in the jockey’s dressing room.  When Baeza, a very sensitive, young man, is satisfied with his performance it shows.  When he loses he is bitter and depressed.  The young (23) Panamanian felt fine yesterday.

            “He run a great race,” Baeza said of Tutankhamen, “There’s no doubt about it.”

            Tutankhamen paid $11.40 and won by two lengths over Sensitivo.  The favored Jaipur was sixth.  Baeza had two other winners in seven mounts:  Narwhal ($23.40) and Eastern Flier ($9.50).

            The three victories boosted Baeza to first place in the jockey standings with 14 winners in 57 mounts.  He won the riding title for the Belmont spring meeting.  “I hope I can keep it up,” he said.  “I’m going to try.  That’s all I can do.”

            Tutankhamen’s trainer, John Gaver, said, “I’ve got to give all the credit to the jockey and the horse.  I’ve never seen a better ride in my life.  I’m crazy about Baeza and I think he’s a real comer.

            “I just think Baeza rides all horses well.  At Saratoga he told me that if he didn’t follow the instructions I had given him the horse would have run a better race.  So I told him I wouldn’t give him any instructions anymore.  He does what he damn pleases.”

            The big disappointment in the Manhattan was the 4-to-5 favorite Jaipur, ranked as the best 3-year-old colt in America.  Willie Shoemaker rode the Nasrullah colt and said later, “The Nasrullah temperament must have jumped out on him.

            “On the backstretch,” Shoemaker continued, “I was only a length off the leader (Tutankhamen).  Then all of a sudden Jaipur went from a pull to a drive in one stride.  At the half-mile pole he spit out the bit and that was it.”

            Jaipur, with earnings of $383,977 this season, was out of the money only once before in his career.  That was the Preakness when he stumbled at the start, couldn’t stride right, and cut his right hind leg.

            Another Panamanian, Manuel Ycaza, rode four straight winners and was second in the Manhattan on Sensitivo.  “I wish I could have won the Manhattan,” he said wistfully.  “If only Jaipur had run more with Tutankhamen, it might have made a big difference in the outcome.”