Deep edition of Manhattan tops trio of Grade 1 stakes at Saratoga

An excellent edition of the $1 million Manhattan (G1) at Saratoga on Saturday tops a trio of graded stakes on the grass preceding the Belmont S. (G1).

Rhetorical, who made all in the Turf Classic (G1) at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby Day, should find the modest step up in distance to 1 3/16 miles within his scope, and has a 3-for-4 record at the Spa.

Deterministic is also no slouch at Saratoga, having won last year's Manhattan and Fourstardave H. (G1) before hitting the sidelines. He comes in on a four-race win streak, having also captured the last two editions of the Fort Marcy (G3) at Aqueduct.

One Stripe split Zulu Kingdom and Rhetorical in the Maker's Mark Mile (G1) at Keeneland two back, one race after falling a neck short of stablemate Test Score in the Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1). Integration, second by a neck in the 2025 Manhattan, registered an allowance prep win at Aqueduct last month, while Make Me King was a rallying second to Rhetorical at Churchill Downs last time.

Bright Picture is the lone foreign entry in the Manhattan. A multiple Group 2 winner in France, the Andre Fabre charge was most recently second to Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) hero Daryz in the Prix Ganay (G1).

Segesta will look to maintain her streak of Grade 1 wins in the $500,000 Just a Game (G1) over one mile. The Chad Brown trainee prevailed as the favorite in the Matriarch (G1) at Del Mar in November, and then finished in a dead heat for first with Expensive Queen in her season debut, the Jenny Wiley (G1) at Keeneland on April 11.

"She got a good run out of it, and she should move forward, fitness-wise. I didn't have her fully cranked," Brown said.

Brown also saddles the lightly-raced Sandtrap, an easy allowance winner at Aqueduct in mid-April following a layoff of a year and a half. In France previously, Sandtrap placed in the 2024 Prix Reservoirs (G3) behind Gezora, the future French Oaks (G1) and Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) winner.

French invader Mandanaba merits a strong look based on her form in last year's French classics, while the pace of the race should come from And One More Time and Classic Q.

The five-year-old mare Ag Bullet might go favored in her title defense of the $500,000 Jaipur (G1) against the boys. A decisive two-length winner over returning rival My Boy Prince a year ago in the 5 1/2-furlong dash, Ag Bullet later placed for a second time in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1).

Reef Runner returns from a sojourn to the Middle East, where he captured a Group 2 in Saudi Arabia and finished fourth in the Al Quoz Sprint (G1) in Dubai. Litigation, meanwhile, has been on form since commencing his season in late January.