Happy Whitney Day! 

This is one of the top cards of the year. Four Grade 1s including the Fourstardave, the Test, the Derby Invitational, and it’s headlined by the $1 million Whitney. The Whitney is loaded, you will not find a better field of older dirt horses anywhere outside of the Breeders’ Cup Classic.   

Trivia Question: Which all-time great horse won the Whitney three times during the 1960s? 

Race 9 – The Saratoga Derby Invitational– Grade I 

One mile and Three Sixteenths on the Mellon Turf For Three Year Olds 

1. Capitol Hill: Came from the clouds in the Manila Stakes to just get up for second (83 Beyer). It is tough to be a deep closer on the Inner Turf. More distance should suit and the deep closing style seems to suit. He can drop back, save ground, and make a run in the last half mile. Maybe a slice.
2. Juweiler: Two for three this year and won a Group 3 stakes in Germany last time where he went to the front, opened up by ten lengths, and then just held on. Two back at Chantilly in France he was an OK fifth and finished behind some good ones including Leffard who then won the Group 1 Prix de Paris at Longchamps. An interesting lightly raced invader. Minor award.
3. Final Gambit: Started on the turf, then moved to the poly where he won the Jeff Ruby and then tried the dirt finishing fourth in 2025 Kentucky Derby. Now he moves back to the turf. In the Belmont Derby, he was at the back of the pack and finished a close 5th after kicking in late (87 Beyer). Can’t see it.
4. Tiztastic: This Tiz the Law colt was on the Derby trail and won the Louisiana Derby. Then he didn’t fare well in the Kentucky Derby and Steve Asmussen decided to go to the turf in the listed American Derby where he trailed the field the entire race (70 Beyer). They apparently are not discouraged by that performance and come back here. Passing.
5. Test Score: In good form for the Motion barn. Won the Belmont Derby with a stalking trip (90 Beyer) over this course. Two back in the American Turf he had a nice trip but was out finished by Zulu Kingdom (88 Beyer). Distance should suit. Going great this year. The Pick.
6. New Century: Brendan Walsh trainee was one paced in the Belmont Derby after being in position (87 Beyer). That day he attended the pace whereas two back in the American Turf he closed from off the pace to pick up third place money (87 Beyer). Maybe a piece.
7. Hotazhell: Ships in from England after a fifth in the Group 1 Coral Eclipse as he tried to take the field the whole way but was run down. Had a similar trip in the Irish 2000 Guineas while finishing third. Great two year old season as he won the Group 1 Futurity and the Group 2 Beresford Stakes – both at a mile. But he doesn’t appear to want to go this long. Underlay at the ML price. Hits the board.
8. Tiberius Thunder: Ships across the pond after decent performances in two Group 3 stakes this year. Most recently in the Hampton Court at Ascot he was in position but didn’t quicken and the leader drew off. Show me.
9. World Beater: Has been running well for Riley Mott with two wins from his last three outings including a narrow win in the Audubon Stakes (82 Beyer) and a strong second in the Belmont Derby (88 Beyer). Stalker will need to work a trip from this outside post. Exotics.

Picks 5-7-2-6 

Race 11 – The Whitney Stakes – Grade I 

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

1. Mindframe: Pletcher indicates apparently he is going to scratch from this spot unless Fierceness does not run. So expect a scratch. Strong four year old season winning all three starts this year including Grade 1s Stephen F. Foster (105 Beyer) going nine furlongs and the Churchill Downs Stakes (95 Beyer). Should be on the pace.  Has won five of seven career races. The Pick if he makes the starting gate.
2. Skippylongstocking: Won the Grade 3 Challenger Stakes at Tampa and the Grade 2 Gold Cup at Santa Anita (98 Beyer) this year. But has not had the same success when facing Grade I company. Likes to be on the pace. Was fifth in this race last year. Water is too deep.
3. Highland Falls: Winner of last year’s Jockey Club Gold Cup (104 Beyer) failed to fire in the BC Classic and then was given a long break by Brad Cox. He came back as a five year old in a high priced conditioned race at Churchill and handled the field pretty easily (98 Beyer). Does best when he can set or attend the pace. Not quite there against these monsters.
4. Mamas Gold: NY state bred makes the big jump to Grade I company today after competing in Black Type and State Bred stakes. Should be on the pedal early – but this field is way beyond what he is used to. Ran a couple triple digit Beyers last winter against far weaker where he could control the race on the front end. Know him early.
5. Sierra Leone: BC Classic winner has not quite hit his stride as a four year old.  In his seasonal debut he did not show his big closing kick finishing a non-threatening third (103 Beyer). Then in the Stephen Foster he couldn’t get to Mindframe (104 Beyer). Was not at his best over this surface last and there were “he didn’t care for Saratoga” explanations for his defeats in the Jim Dandy and Travers. Does get a rabbit in the form of Contrary Thinking. Piece of it.
6. Disarm: Cross entered on August 1st. Two back he won a conditioned allowance race (96 Beyer) but has finished behind a number of these over the past two years in various stakes races. Was fourth in this race last year. Appears out of his depth. 
7. White Abarrio: Didn’t fire in the Met Mile on a muddy sealed track after getting bumped at the break. Prior to that he had two excellent races winning the Pegasus where he dominated the field (109 Beyer) along with the Ghostzapper Stakes. Will look to stalk the pace setters. Won this race two years ago when Rick Dutrow trained him. Will need to be at his best. Hard to trust.
8. Contrary Thinking: Chad Brown trainee’s most recent effort in N1X company showed a different type of runner. He went right to the front and took them the whole way (95 Beyer). Rabbit for Sierra Leone to ensure a decent pace. Early speed.
9. Fierceness: Won the Alysheba in his four year old return (107 Beyer) but in the Met Mile he was in position but couldn’t get by Raging Torrent who wired the field over a muddy sealed track (102 Beyer). Pace presser won the Jim Dandy and Travers over this track last year. Outside post should help as he can be in the clear – which is his strong preference. In Johnny V we trust. The Pick.
10. Post Time: Has been very consistent hitting the board in the 2024 renditions of the Whitney, Met Mile, Cigar Mile, and BC Dirt Mile. While he won the Carter and General George going shorter – he has not been good enough to win going longer against these types. Exotics.

Picks: 9-1-5-10 

Trivia Answer: The mighty Kelso won the Whitney in 1961, 1963, and 1965,