Jerkens: V. E. Day ready for Whitney

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – V. E. Day, the 2014 Travers winner, worked a stamina-building six furlongs in 1:14.17 on Friday over Saratoga’s main track in preparation for next Saturday’s Grade 1 Whitney Stakes.

With Kelvin Pahal in the irons, V. E. Day went in fractions of 25.63 seconds, 37.51, and 49.08 and galloped out seven furlongs in 1:28.16.

Trainer Jimmy Jerkens said he was happy with what he saw and believes that despite V. E. Day having had only two starts this year, his fitness level is where it needs to be to face a star-studded cast shaping up for the Whitney.

“He hasn’t missed any works or anything,” Jerkens said. “He did miss the Suburban. He certainly hasn’t been overraced this year, that’s for sure.”

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V. E. Day was beaten a neck by Coach Inge in the Grade 2 Brooklyn on June 6, and Jerkens subsequently kept him out of the Suburban because the horse had coughed a couple of times during the week of that race.

Tonalist, the 2014 Belmont Stakes winner, and Noble Bird, this year’s Stephen Foster Handicap winner, also put in workouts toward the Whitney.

Tonalist, working by himself over the Oklahoma training track at 7:45 a.m., went five furlongs in 1:02.57. He went in fractions of 13.10 seconds, 25.45, and 49.65 and galloped out six furlongs in 1:15.07.

“Looked good, very happy,” trainer Christophe Clement said.

Noble Bird worked a half-mile in 48.80 seconds, starting two lengths behind stablemate Coastline and finishing a head in front at the wire. Though Coastline galloped out past Noble Bird, trainer Mark Casse said he told jockey Shaun Bridgmohan that he did not want Noble Bird to gallop out.

“We were just trying to sharpen him up a little bit,” Casse said. “We weren’t looking for a lot of endurance. He went perfect and did it very easy. I don’t think he could have gone any better.”

The draw for the Whitney Stakes will take place Tuesday at Sperry’s, a restaurant in downtown Saratoga Springs. Others expected to enter the race include Moreno, last year’s Whitney winner, Wicked Strong, Honor Code, Lea, and Liam’s Map.