SARATOGA SPRINGS, N. Y. — One way to gauge the importance of the Whitney Stakes (G1), which will be run for the 97th time Saturday at Saratoga Race Course, is to note how often participants in the 1 1/8-mile race go on to be named champion older horses. Not surprisingly, the Breeders’ Cup Classic produced the most older-male champions since 2000 (17 in 24 years). But the Whitney ranked a clear second with 12 participants in the race (nine of them winners) chosen as that year’s champion older horse.
Next came the Woodward with eight (seven of them winners), followed by the Met Mile, Stephen Foster and Jockey Club Gold Cup with six each. [Note: all but one of the divisional champions who ran in the Woodward and Jockey Club Gold Cup did so between 2000 and 2010.]
Morning-line favorite in this year’s Whitney is National Treasure (9-5), who tops the divisional rankings in both the DRF and NTRA polls. Winner of the Preakness as a three-year-old, the Quality Road colt has upped his game at four, with impressive G1 victories in the Pegasus World Cup and Met Mile. Both races were won while forwardly places with Flavian Prat at the controls. Prat retains the mount for trainer Bob Baffert and a boatload of ownership groups.
First Mission is next at 9-2, despite running fourth five weeks ago as the odds-on choice in the Stephen Foster (G1). A return to the form that saw the Godolphin homebred son of Street Sense romp in the Essex Stakes (G3) and Alysheba (G2) this spring could make him a threat in Saturday’s race. Florent Geroux climbs aboard again for trainer Brad Cox.
Lightly raced Bright Future, who exits a 1 ¾-lengths score in the Salvator Mile (G3) in his only start of 2024, is the third choice at 5-1. The five-year-old son of Curlin drew notice last September with a nose win over the now retired Proxy in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) but could do no better than sixth behind White Abarrio in the BC Classic. Todd Pletcher trainee is 2-for-2 at the Spa.
Crupi (15-1), another son of Curlin conditioned by Todd Pletcher, notched his first graded win two months ago in the Suburban (G2) but was unable to stay with Next in the Brooklyn (G2).
Skippylongstocking (8-1) is competing in his 17th consecutive graded race. The five-year-old son of Exaggerator has earned nearly $2.4 million while compiling a 6-1-4 record in the first sixteen.
Arthur’s Ride (8-1), a 12 ¾-length winner of a 1 ¼-mile allowance (in a sharp 2:00.99) two months ago, tries stakes company for the first time.
Disarm (15-1), Il Miracolo (20-1), Post Time (20-1), Warrior Johnny (20-1), Tumbarumba (20-1) and Charge It (30-1) complete the field.
Originally Published: August 2, 2024 at 6:00 p.m.
Source link : https://www.saratogian.com/2024/08/02/horse-racing-field-of-12-set-for-whitney/
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Publish date : 2024-08-03 10:02:17
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