Manhattan Stakes Handicapping Picks
Horse racing gamblers are you looking for 2024 Manhattan Stakes Free Pick & Handicapping Odds…plus some predictions? Need some advice on who to take? The 2024 (G1) Manhattan is set for June 8 at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, NY. Here’s a preview of our top contenders.
Manhattan Stakes Preview
- Race: Manhattan Stakes
- Purse: $1 million
- Track: Saratoga Race Course
- Date: June 8
- Post Time: 5:36 PM (ET)
- Live: Manhattan Stakes Odds: Click Here
Before we can give you our expert 2024 Manhattan Stakes free pick, we have to break down the entries! In fact, we’d love to hear from you after you’ve given this post a read to see if you see an angle that we don’t!
2024 Manhattan Stakes Handicapping
With extensive renovations ongoing at Belmont Park, the New York Racing Association has shuffled the state racing calendar around, and for the first time in history Saratoga will play host to the (G1) Belmont Stakes, the third leg of the American Triple Crown.
But the calendar includes more than just the Belmont, as the upstate New York track plays host to the entire three-day Belmont Festival of Racing. The Saturday card is the big one, with a total of 14 races, including nine stakes races, six of those at the Grade 1 level.
These include the (G1) Manhattan Stakes, set to go just prior to the main event. The Manhattan is open to horses age four and older, and is run in the Saratoga turf at a distance of 1 3/16 miles. The race has drawn an international field of nine starters and offers good betting value with no overwhelming favourite.
Odds listed here are provided by the Saratoga track oddsmaker.
2024 Manhattan Stakes Free Pick & Handicapping: Program Trading Race Odds: 5-2
The UK-bred Program Trading has done all of his racing stateside, and has been nearly unbeatable, with five wins and one runner-up finish in six lifetime starts.
He already has a win at the track and the distance, after he won the (G1) Saratoga Derby Invitational over a yielding surface last August. Last out he won the (G1) Turf Classic at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby day. He has shown an ability to win when pressing the pace or coming from a bit further back.
He does have a knack for prevailing in close finishes, as his last three wins were by a head, a neck, and a head.
2024 Manhattan Stakes Free Pick & Handicapping: Measured Time Race Odds: 7-2
Another UK-bred colt, Measured Time will be making his North American debut, shipping in after three straight starts on the turf at Meydan Race Track in Dubai. All of those races were at a slightly shorter 1 1/8 distance, although he does have a win at the slightly longer 1 1/4 miles on his resume.
He was fourth last out but only beaten by 1 1/4 lengths. Otherwise, he sports a very similar record to Program Trading, with five wins and one second-place finish in his first six career starts.
Nations Pride Race Odds: 9-2
Something of a specialist at the distance, Irish-bred Nations Pride has raced eight times in his career at 1 3/16 miles and has won six of those, with one runner-up finish. Those include a win on the Saratoga turf course.
After winning three of his four starts early in 2023, he closed his season with a somewhat disappointing seventh-place run in the (G2) Bahrain International. He opened 2024 by fishing third in the (G2) Man O’ War Stakes at Aqueduct. That was a 1 3/8 mile event, here he cuts back to his favourite distance.
Al Riffa Race Odds: 6-1
A bit of a wild card in this field, Al Riffa is a French-bred colt making his North American debut after four starts in Ireland and then his last two on his native French soil. He’s failed to finish first or second only once in six tries, and that was last out when he was fourth – but only a half-length back of the winner – in a Group 1 race at 1 5/16 miles.
Adding to the intrigue is that his first three races were 7-furlong sprints, while his last three were at 1 1/4 miles or longer. On top of all that, he’s never raced on a turf course with firm footing.
Here’s My 2024 Manhattan Stakes Free Pick.
I personally love turf racing, and particularly at distances of a mile and beyond, where a typical slow early pace ensures that multiple horses will be in with a shot at winning as they all come off the final turn.
That’s exactly what is to be expected here, with a mad dash to the finish. When the dust settles, I’m picking Program Training to out-kick the overseas invaders and get up for a narrow win. There’s only one certified speedster in the race in the form of long shot Strong Quality, and I think a slow early pace sets up well for Program Trading.
Generally I shy away from horses with question marks like Al Riffa, but I’m intrigued by the fact he’s a successful spinner turned successful distance runner, indicating a nice combination of speed and stamina. I’ll use him underneath at a bit of a price.
Full Field: 2024 Manhattan Stakes Odds
By post position
- #1 – I’m Very Busy 9-2
- #2 – Ohana Honor 15-1
- #3 – Kertez 20-1
- #4 – Strong Quality 15-1
- #5 – Program Trading 5-2
- #6 – Al Riffa 6-1
- #7 – Nations Pride 9-2
- #8 – Far Bridge 10-1
- #9 – Measured Time 7-2
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