FUNABASHI, Chiba Pref. -- Manhattan Cafe and American Boss turned the tables on top picks T.M. Opera O and Meisho Doto as they wrapped up the Arima Memorial race Sunday with a 1-2 finish that capped the Japanese racing year with a decidely un-Japanese ring.
The winning pair rang uncommonly well at the payoff windows -- 48,650 yen on a 100 yen wager, the biggest return in the Arima's 46-year history.
Third choice Manhattan Cafe, winner of this year's classic Kikkasho (Japanese St. Leger) bested the field of 13 in the 2,500-meter Grade 1 event at Nakayama Racecourse by a length and a quarter, with longshot American Boss nudging the Queen Elizabeth Commemorative champ To the Victory by a neck for second.