Jerkens pair work for Whitney

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Back at Saratoga, where they finished noses apart when one-two in last year’s Travers Stakes, stablemates V. E. Day and Wicked Strong both worked this week for the Whitney.

V. E. Day, second in the Brooklyn last out, worked four furlongs in 48.98 seconds on Friday. Working by himself, V. E. Day went his first quarter in 24.52 seconds and his second quarter in 24.46. He galloped out five furlongs in 1:02.35 and six furlongs in 1:16.24.

“Real good,” said trainer Jimmy Jerkens. “Nice and on his own. We’re happy with how he’s doing.”

Jerkens said he is still seeking a rider for V. E. Day. Javier Castellano, V. E. Day’s regular rider, is committed to Honor Code for the Whitney.

Meanwhile, Jerkens said that Luis Saez will replace the injured Rajiv Maragh on Wicked Strong, who on Thursday worked a half-mile in 48.56 seconds, getting a final quarter in 23.94. It was Wicked Strong’s first race since finishing second in the Forbidden Apple on turf.

Jerkens said Wicked Strong “didn’t like the turf enough to stay on it” and finished second in that race on class and determination. Jerkens hopes that race moves him forward for a return to dirt in the Whitney.

“He did that very easy yesterday,” Jerkens said of Thursday’s work. “Just hoping he improves up here like he did last year.”

Jerkens said that Effinex, the Suburban winner, would skip the Whitney and point to the Woodward on Sept. 5.

Others expected for the Whitney are Grade 1 winners Moreno – last year’s Whitney winner – Noble Bird, Lea, Honor Code, and Tonalist as well as Liam’s Map, the lone non-graded winner in the field.