Win and You’re In: Whitney Stakes Sends Winner to Breeders’ Cup Classic
New York-breds are Favorites in 2018 Edition of Historic Whitney Stakes
A big weekend of racing continues Saturday at Saratoga with five stakes races headlined by the $1.2 million Whitney Stakes. The Grade 1 Whitney is an annual summer feature at Saratoga, and not only honors the prominent Whitney racing family, but produces some superb champions including Gun Runner last year. A first place prize of $650,000 awaits the winner of the 1 1/8 mile race on Aug. 4, as does an automatic invitation and fees-paid entry to the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic Nov. 3 at Churchill Downs.
The Whitney Stakes is a “Win and You’re In” Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series race and draws much attention and wagering interest. Much of the money, betting and interest will be directed towards the two favorites, who are both local favorites as New York-breds. Diversify (7-5) has won 9 of 14 career starts and is the fastest horse in the field of eight. His sizzling speed performance last month in winning the $700,000 Suburban (G2) by more than 6 length was sensational. Diversify has won each of his last five starts since last summer at Belmont or Saratoga and he’s earned more than $1.3 million on the race track. Irad Ortiz, Jr. rides.
Mind Your Biscuits (2-1) finished 2nd by a nose in the Metropolitan Handicap (G2) at Belmont June 9. He’s a top sprinter but stretches out in search of a big score and a Classic invitation. Jockey Joel Rosario is a superb stretch runner from off the pace and that’s how he rode Mind Your Biscuits in the Metropolitan. Perhaps a little closer to the leaders in the Whitney, and he’ll try to answer the question of distance. Top earner in the field with nearly $4 million.
Racing at Saratoga
Last year’s Belmont Stakes winner Taprit (6-1) is on the rail, but a horse with great speed that can pull the upset is Backyard Heaven (9-2) with Javier Castellano aboard. He’s a lightly-raced 4-year-old who won the Alysheba (G2) at Churchill Downs in May but didn’t fire in his last race over that track in the Stephen Foster (G1). The rest of the field makes up a solid Whitney: Good Samaritan (12-1), McCraken (15-1), Discreet Lover (30-1), Summer and Dalmore (30-1).
Last year’s winner of the 90th running of the Whitney was Gun Runner, who parlayed that victory into a Breeders’ Cup Classic win and Horse of the Year honors. Gun Runner won five Grade 1 races to close his career including the $16 million Pegasus Cup Invitational.
Starting in 2007, the Whitney became part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series, and the list of winners is impressive including those that went on to Breeders’ Cup success.
- 2017 – Gun Runner won 12 times including Breeders’ Cup Classic with $15.9 million earned
- 2016 – Frosted was multiple Grade 1 winner & placed in Belmont, Travers & Jim Dandy
- 2015 – Honor Code was 3rd in Breeders’ Cup Classic
- 2012 – For Larned was a 10-time winner and won the Breeders’ Cup Classic
- 2011 – Tizway ended his career with Whitney win and multiple Grade 1 winner
- 2010 – Blame won 8 of his final 10 races including Breeders’ Cup Classic in finale
- 2008 – Commentator was two-time Whitney winner (2005) who won 14 career races
- 2007 – Lawyer Ron was 12-time winner and set Whitney speed record of 1:46.64
Other notable Whitney champions include: War Admiral, Easy Goer, Alydar, Dr. Fagar, Blame, Tom Fool, Gallorette, Devil Diver, Invasor, Awesome Again, Slew of Gold, Lemon Drop Kid, Stymie, Ancient Title, Madaglia d’ Oro, Eight Thirty, Key to Mint, fillies Personal Ensign and Ladies Secret, and three time winners Discovery and Kelso.
Horse Racing Nation’s Super Screener uses time tested racing methodology to providing detailed race analysis on key Grades Stakes races. Horse by horse analysis, pace projections, profiles, track biases, trip notes and suggested wagers are part of the information and insight into the big races. In the Whitney Stakes, Super Screener is taking a stand against the vulnerable favorite Diversify and suggests using Good Samaritan, Discreet Lover and Backyard Heaven as a trio over and under in Trifecta’s with “All” in the other slots. A big score could be in the offering. All three are rated top win contenders at a better price than the two favorites.
The Whitney Stakes will be featured in NBC Sports’ live coverage on-site from Saratoga, and the broadcast will air on NBCSN from 5-6pm ET and include the $500,000 Longines Test Stakes for 3-year-old fillies. Post time for the Whitney Stakes is 5:46pm.
