Deterministic returns to the stage to defend his crown in a deluxe Manhattan Stakes

The 2025 champion will face an international field of immense stature this Saturday at Saratoga, spearheaded by Rhetorical, Bright Picture, Make Me King, and several G1 winners

SARATOGA SPRINGS, New York (Special to Turf Diario).– Few turf races in the United States gather as much international quality year after year as the Manhattan Stakes (G1). The 2026 renewal, to be contested this Saturday over 1900 meters on the Mellon turf course at Saratoga for a $1,000,000 purse, will be no exception.

At the center of the stage will be Deterministic, the horse aiming to become the first back-to-back winner of the event since American turf racing entered its current golden era.

Trained by Miguel Clement, the son of Liam's Map arrives in the best form of his career. Winner of 8 of his 14 starts, he rides a 4-race winning streak, a sequence that began precisely with his victory in the 2025 Manhattan and continued with scores in the Fourstardave Stakes (G1) and recently in the Fort Marcy Stakes (G3).

"He looks spectacular. It's a fantastic race, but he couldn't be coming into it any better. He won his last race practically on courage and class. I think he has moved forward significantly since then," commented Clement, excited about a repeat celebration.

However, the challenge will be much tougher this time around. Among his main rivals is Rhetorical, one of the most progressive turf horses in North America. The Will Walden trainee enters fresh off a wire-to-wire victory in the Turf Classic Stakes (G1) at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby (G1) day and already boasts two G1 triumphs.

A son of Not This Time, the reigning New York-bred Horse of the Year has demonstrated a remarkable ability to control the pace and then accelerate at the decisive moment.

"I don't know if it will be as easy for him to control the running this time, because Miguel's horse has speed too," Walden acknowledged. "But he arrives in exceptional form."

The international flavor of the Manhattan is once again guaranteed by the presence of several top-tier visitors. One of them will be Make Me King, representing Wathnan Racing and trained by Hamad Al Jehani. The son of Dark Angel comes off tracking Rhetorical across the wire in the Turf Classic and had previously finished fourth behind the extraordinary Ombudsman (Night of Thunder) in the Dubai Turf (G1) at Meydan.

Accustomed to competing around the globe, Make Me King has contested races in the United States, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, France, and Great Britain over the last twelve months.

"The distance suits him perfectly and we are very excited to compete on such an important day again," Al Jehaniexplained.

Arriving from France is another highly respected contender: Bright Picture. The pupil of the legendary Andre Fabrecomes off an extraordinary campaign, featuring victories in the Prix Exbury (G3) and the Prix d'Harcourt (G2), as well as a recent second-place finish behind the phenomenon Daryz (Sea the Stars) in the Prix Ganay (G1). The presence of the son of Intello adds a special allure to an event that has historically been highly receptive to European raids.

Fabre, winner of 12 G1 races in the United States, will now look to add another international trophy to a virtually unmatched collection.

Graham Motion will also be well-represented, sending out two top-level runners. On one hand is One Stripe (One World), a multiple G1 winner in South Africa who comes off two excellent runner-up finishes in the Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1) and the Maker's Mark Mile (G1).

On the other hand is Test Score (Lookin At Lucky), victor in the Belmont Derby Invitational (G1), who will attempt to bounce back from an inexplicable performance in the Turf Classic. "What happened at Churchill was a true mystery. He is an extremely genuine horse and had never run like that before," Motion admitted.

The field is completed by Integration (Quality Road), runner-up in this race last season; Battle of Normandy (City of Light), always competitive at this level; and Tiz Dashing (Tiz the Law), winner of the Canadian Turf Stakes (G3).

With multiple G1 winners and established stars from Europe, the United States, the Middle East, and South Africa, the Manhattan Stakes once again serves up all the ingredients that have made it one of the most prestigious events on the international turf calendar.