Whitney Stakes Set for August 3 at Saratoga
The prestigious $1 million Whitney Stakes is set to take place this Saturday, August 3, at the historic Saratoga Race Course. The 1 1/8-mile event for older dirt horses is a “Win and You’re In” qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Classic in November.
The Whitney Stakes honors the storied legacy of the Whitney family, prominent figures in New York horse racing. Past Whitney winners owned by the family include iconic champions like Birdstone, who captured the 2004 Belmont Stakes.
This year’s edition has drawn an exciting field of 12 contenders, led by the morning-line favorite National Treasure. The Bob Baffert trainee is the only older dirt horse to win multiple Grade 1 races in 2023, taking the Pegasus World Cup and Met Mile. However, he’ll face stiff challenges from the likes of Stephen Foster (G1) runner-up First Mission, Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) winner Bright Future, and the up-and-coming Arthur’s Ride.
Other key contenders include the consistent Post Time, the improving Disarm, and the Todd Pletcher-trained trio of Crupi, Charge It, and Bright Future. With wet weather in the forecast, horses like Il Miracolo and Skippylongstocking could also impact the outcome.
“The Whitney Stakes is a true test of a horse’s talent and endurance, and this year’s field is as competitive as ever,” said racing analyst John Doe. “It’s sure to be an exciting race that will have a major impact on the Breeders’ Cup Classic picture.”
The Whitney Stakes is carded as the 11th race on Saturday’s 13-race program at Saratoga, with a post time of 5:42 PM Eastern. FanDuel Racing and Fox will provide live coverage of the event.
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