Mendelssohn’s Manabi Wins On Debut

It was another juvenile winner for Mendelssohn this year when Manabi (2c Mendelssohn x Dolce Lemone, by Lemon Drop Kid) broke his maiden on debut at Colonial Downs.

Pressing the pacemaker early in the 1 1/16 mile turf race, Manabi took command as the field raced into the turn. He had a small advantage coming into the stretch and started to pull away though some greenness kept his margin from growing too much. Even with that, he proved to be too strong for the rest of the field with a 1 ½ length victory and the third placed horse nearly five lengths behind.

Bred by Don Alberto, Manabi is trained by Arnaud Delacour for Final Furlong Farm. He had put in three bullets in his last six breezes to prepare for this race and never ranked any slower than third fastest in all those works.

Manabi is a three-quarter brother to Scat Daddy’s stakes winning Dolce Lili and two other winners from four others to race out of Dolce Lemone. A winner herself, Dolce Lemone is a half-sister to stakes winner Noble Strike and stakes-placed Sir Frederick.

Noble Strike is the dam of Grade III winner Dixie Strike and Canadian champion Inglorious among others.

Dolce Lemone returned to another Scat Daddy son in 2022, foaling a colt by undefeated Triple Crown winner Justify on February 17.