Making his third straight start in Grade 1 company, Northern Afleet’s top turf handicap horse Kaigun finished a game second in the $1 million Manhattan S. (G1) June 6 at Belmont Park.

With $299,507 to date, Kaigun is Northern Afleet’s leading earner this year. Kaigun is one of 24 stakes horses by his sire worldwide, a group that includes three graded winners and seven black-type winners overall.

The first six furlongs of the Manhattan got an odd set up, as longshot Five Iron opened up some ten lengths on the field, near the front of the pack of closest pursuers. The field began to reel in the pacesetter around the final turn, with Kaigun pulling even in mid-stretch. He overtook a fading Five Iron, besting the field except for the late-closing Real Solution, winner of last year’s Arlington Million (G1).

Kaigun, trained by Mark Casse for Gary Barber, Harvey Swartz and Tina Casse, is now 3-3-1 in 12 starts, earning $401,633. Kaigun finished second to two-time Horse of the Year Wise Dan in the Makers46 Mile (G1) in April at Keeneland.