Happy Whitney Day!

Big time card today with four Grade I’s led by a loaded Whitney and The Fourstardave which honors the “Sultan of Saratoga”.

Trivia Question: Nitrogen takes on the colts in the Whitney as she attempts to become the seventh filly to win this prestigious Grade I. Who was the most recent filly to win the Whitney?

Race 10 – The Fourstardave – Grade I

One Mile on the Inner Turf For Three Year Olds and Upward

1. Rhetorical: In the Turf Classic at Churchill on Derby Day he took the field all nine furlongs (107 Beyer). Then in the Manhattan his early lead evaporated as he finished fourth (99 Beyer). Cuts back to a mile. Three for three on the Saratoga inner turf course. Only three workouts leading into today as he battled a fungal infection. Minor award.
2. Mi Bago: Won the Kelso over this track where he dead heated with Zulu Kingdom after leading until the last jump (100 Beyer). Will need to repeat that career best performance to win today. Saez rides as Jose Ortiz moves to Lagynos. Too much other speed here. Casse says he will only run one of his two entrants, so look for a potential scratch. Passing.
3. Zulu Kingdom: Dead heated with Mi Bago in the Kelso Stakes last month as he got up late (100 Beyer). Was caught two back in the Poker. Also prevailed in the Markers Mark Mile in April going wire to wire (98 Beyer). He can set or attend the pace. Look for a stalking trip as Prat will let the others bang it out in front of him. Three for five over the Inner Turf – four for five if count the DQ in last year’s Hall of Fame. Win candidate.
4. Classic Q: Four year old filly takes on the boys and prefers to be up front. She’s used that tactic in her last three races with wins in The Just A Game (99 Beyer) and in the Distaff Turf Mile at Churchill (91 Beyer). I expect she’ll be sent again today. A lot of speed in here today. Casse says he will only run one of his two entrants, so look for a potential scratch. Gets cooked.
5. Deterministic: Defending champion of this race is two for two this year as he cuts back to a mile after winning the Manhattan for the second straight year (100 Beyer). Two for three over the Saratoga Inner turf course. Probably not fast enough to get to the front so he may end up stalking. Last loss on the turf was in October 2024 and he has won six straight races on the turf since. Four most recent Beyers were 100, 100,101,100. The Pick.
6. Capitol Hill: Just missed in the Poker Stakes (95 Beyer) over this course in June and then finished fourth of five in the Kelso behind several of today’s opponents where he was outrun in the final sixteenth (94 Beyer). Should have pace to close into. Maybe fills out a super.
7. Lagynos: Has won his last five starts including the Wise Dan in June where he stalked and pounced (99 Beyer). Should sit on the second flight off an expected strong pace. Finished seventh in this race in 2025. Look for a better performance this year. Jose Ortiz choses to be here instead on Mi Bago. Gets a piece.

Picks 5-3-7-1

Race 12 – The Whitney – Grade I

One Mile and One Furlong On the Dirt, For Four Year Olds and Upward

1. Magnitude: Is undefeated in three starts this year winning the Razorback (102 Beyer), the $12 million Dubai World Cup where he defeated Forever Young after which he came back stateside and wired the field in the Steven F. Foster (114 Beyer) over a sloppy track. Should be sent from the gate today again – come and catch me. The Pick.
2. Nitrogen: Four year old filly takes on the boys after a super impressive win in the Ogden Phipps where she won by twelve lengths and posted a 113 Beyer. That followed two flat outings. Three wins from four starts at the Spa. Johnny V takes over as Jose Ortiz choses Magnitude. If she is on her game, she is legit here but she needs her best again. Should track Magnitude. Using.
3. Antiquarian: In 2026 he has a win in the Grade 3 Westchester (101 Beyer), a distant fourth in the Met Mile, and a tough trip in the Suburban where he stumbled at the gate and then was blocked in the lane (92 Beyer). Could get a piece of it.
4. Forged Steel: Saffie indicates that he will likely scratch and run in the Iselin Stakes at Monmouth next week. I don’t see it if he does go here.
5. White Abarrio: You never quite know what you will get with this talented and mercurial colt. He looked great two back in the Oaklawn Handicap where he won (111 Beyer) and then faded in the Steven F. Foster where he was a distant fourth (100 Beyer). He has not performed well over this track although he did win the 2023 Whitney. Hard to trust. Lean against.
6. Sovereignty: Has not quite been the same this year. In the Oaklawn Handicap and led in the stretch but was bested by White Abarrio (111 Beyer). That was his first race off an eight month layoff. He then came back in the Steven F. Foster and flattened out finishing third (100 Beyer) on a sloppy track. Won the Belmont, the Jim Dandy, and the Travers over this track last year so maybe the home cooking will suit. If he wins I won’t be surprised, and if he finishes up the track I also wouldn’t be surprised. Underneath.
7. Tiztastic: Has had three starts this year with a poor effort on the turf and then went back to the dirt where he handled an allowance field. Off that win he was a no impact fourth in the Suburban as he passed some tired ones (92 Beyer). Passing.
8. Baeza: Hit the board in both the Alysheba and Steven F. Foster (112 Beyer) after being left at the gate both times and having to go wide on the far turn both times. Given his repeated gate issues they may just take back and drop to the rail from the outside post and make one big run. Prat stays here. Small slice.

Picks: 1-2-8-6

Trivia Answer: Personal Ensign, who won all of her thirteen career starts, won the Whitney in 1988 as a four year old for Shug and Odgen Phipps.