Little Mike, Imagining Head Large Field in Manhattan

The Grade 1, $1 million Knob Creek Manhattan is shaping up to be a big field of older male turf runners, featuring 2012 Breeders' Cup Turf hero Little Mike.

Little Mike, formerly trained by Dale Romans, is now in the barn of Carlo Vaccarezza. In 2013, the son of Spanish Steps won only one race - the Grade 1 Turf Classic Invitational - and contested the Breeders' Cup Turf and the Longines Hong Kong Cup. He has raced only once in 2014, taking the Flying Pidgeon at Gulfstream Park by 2 ¾ lengths.

Imagining, who became a Grade 1 winner in his last start in the Man o' War, is also likely to contest the Manhattan. Trained by Shug McGaughey for Phipps Stable, the 6-year-old son of Giant's Causeway has won eight of 16 lifetime starts, and is four for six since adding blinkers in August of last year.

Seek Again, who came within a head of defeating reigning Horse of the Year Wise Dan in his last start, appears set to join the field. His narrow defeat, which came in the Grade 1 Turf Classic at Churchill Downs, was his first start in 2014, and only his second North American outing.

Also likely for the race are Amira's Prince, Finnegans Wake, Five Iron, Grandeur, Hey Leroy, Kaigun and Real Solution. Boisterous, Rookie Sensation, and Speaking of Which are possible.