Seek Again Manhattan-bound

Seek Again came off a five-month layoff and nearly upset two-time Horse of the Year Wise Dan, falling a head short to that rival in the Grade 1 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic at Churchill on Kentucky Derby Day.

Bill Mott believes a similar effort will make Seek Again more than formidable in Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Manhattan Stakes, which will not include Wise Dan.

“He ran a full nine furlongs the other day and wasn’t giving anything up,” Mott said. “He probably galloped out in front of the winner the other day. I just hope he has that same type of effort back in him; that would be good enough for me.”

On Sunday, Seek Again worked five furlongs in 1:02.14 over the Belmont inner turf course, a move in which he jumped a shadow and switched back and forth between his right and left leads in the stretch.

Seek Again is expected to take on a field that includes Boisterous, Five Iron, Grandeur, Hey Leroy, Imagining, Kaigun, Real Solution, and possibly Chamois and Rookie Sensation.

** Unlimited Budget joined the field for the Grade 1 Just a Game Stakes for Pletcher when she worked satisfactorily in company on turf Sunday morning with Boisterous.

Unlimited Budget, a multiple graded stakes winner on dirt, will be making her turf debut in the one-mile Just a Game against a field that is expected to include Better Lucky, Coffee Clique, Dame Marie, Discreet Marq, Somali Lemonade, and possibly Strathnaver.

** A large field is expected for the Grade 1 Acorn for 3-year-old fillies, including Aqua Regia, Artemis Agrotera, Fashion Plate, Fiftyshadesofgold, House Rules, My Miss Sophia, Sweet Reason, Sweet Whiskey, and Unbridled Forever.