Date: Friday, July 4, 2025
Track: Saratoga Race Course, Saratoga Springs, NY
Race: Race 8 | Distance: 1 Mile (Inner Turf)
Purse: $200,000 | Eligibility: 3-Year-Olds
Post Time: 5:07 PM ET
Race Overview
The Grade III Manila Stakes is a one-mile turf test for 3-year-olds and a key stepping stone toward the Grade 1 Saratoga Derby. This year’s edition features a full field of 12, including multiple graded stakes winners, international imports, and rising turf stars. With pace pressure and class depth, this promises to be one of the most competitive turf miles of the Saratoga summer meet.
Full Field Analysis
| PP | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Pedigree | Morning Line |
| 1 | Maui Strong | Junior Alvarado | Dale Romans | Kitten’s Joy – Legal Tender | 15-1 |
| 2 | Tiz Dashing | Javier Castellano | Barclay Tagg | Tiz the Law – Breaking Beauty | 15-1 |
| 3 | Fire Pit | Andy Hernandez | Guadalupe Preciado | Cairo Prince – True Martha | 50-1 |
| 4 | Zulu Kingdom (IRE) | Flavien Prat | Chad Brown | Ten Sovereigns – Zindziswa | 6-5 (Fav) |
| 5 | Reagan’s Wit | Jose Ortiz | Cherie DeVaux | Authentic – Dayienu | 7-2 |
| 6 | Uncatalyzed (GB) | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Chad Brown | Kingman – Queen’s Code | 8-1 |
| 7 | Revolutionnaire (FR) | Joel Rosario | Miguel Clement | Penny’s Picnic – Rive Neuve | 12-1 |
| 8 | Capitol Hill | John Velazquez | Bill Mott | Into Mischief – Meadowsweet | 12-1 |
| 9 | Golden Channel | Manny Franco | George Weaver | English Channel – Golden Review | 30-1 |
| 10 | Strate Cash (SCRATCHED) | — | Cherie DeVaux | Tiz the Law – Conquest Strate Up | — |
| 11 | Mythical Man | Luis Saez | Danny Gargan | Mucho Macho Man – Park Lane | 30-1 |
| 12 | Flat to Da Mat | Dylan Davis | Mike Maker | Omaha Beach – Deadline | 20-1 |
Pedigree & Performance Insights
Zulu Kingdom (IRE) – PP4
Pedigree: By Ten Sovereigns, a top European sprinter, out of a Galileo-line mare.
Form: Winner of the G1 American Turf at Churchill; 5-for-6 lifetime.
Trainer: Chad Brown excels with Euro imports and turf routers.
Edge: Tactical speed, class edge, and top turf rider in Prat.
Reagan’s Wit – PP5
Pedigree: By Authentic, out of a Bernardini-line mare.
Form: Dominant winner of the James W. Murphy Stakes at Pimlico.
Note: Improving colt with a strong closing kick; Ortiz stays aboard.
Uncatalyzed (GB) – PP6
Pedigree: Kingman colt bred in the UK; stamina and turn-of-foot.
Form: Maiden winner at Aqueduct; lightly raced with upside.
Note: Dangerous if pace collapses.
Longshot to Watch: Capitol Hill – PP8
Pedigree: Into Mischief colt with a classy female family.
Form: Disappointed last out but has back figures to compete.
Note: Mott-Velazquez combo always merits respect.
Pace & Tactical Breakdown
Front Runners: Fire Pit, Flat to Da Mat
Stalkers: Zulu Kingdom, Reagan’s Wit, Maui Strong
Closers: Uncatalyzed, Revolutionnaire, Golden Channel
Expect a moderate pace, with Zulu Kingdom likely to sit just off the leaders and pounce turning for home. Reagan’s Wit and Uncatalyzed will be flying late if the pace heats up.
