Knicks Go, By My Standards preparing for Whitney in Kentucky and Virginia

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Knicks Go and By My Standards each put in sharp, long workouts over the weekend out of town as they prepare for a start in the Grade 1, $1 million Whitney Stakes here on Aug. 7.

On Sunday at Ellis Park, Knicks Go worked six furlongs in 1:12.20. Trainer Brad Cox said the work was delayed a day due to the closure of the track for training Saturday following Friday’s incident when a stricken tractor driver damaged the inside rail on the dirt course.

Though Cox is at Saratoga, he said the horse is at Ellis because that’s where his regular exercise rider is based.

“He’s really tough and the gallop boy that’s done a good job with him over the last year or so is there for the summer so it made more sense to keep him there as opposed to bringing him up here,” Cox said.

Meanwhile, trainer Bret Calhoun has By My Standards at Colonial Downs this summer. By My Standards worked six furlongs in 1:11 each of the last two Saturdays there. He will work once more this weekend before shipping here. By My Standards finished second in last year’s Whitney.

“Everything’s going very good, he’s had a couple of works there,” Calhoun said. “We had to get out of Churchill, I split my stable between Ellis and Colonial and thought that was a good place to get him ready.”

There were only nine nominations to the Whitney. Others expected to run include Met Mile winner Silver State, Stephen Foster winner Maxfield, and the filly Swiss Skydiver.

Happy Saver is possible. Max Player, the Grade 2 Suburban winner, will not run in the Whitney, owner George Hall said. He will be considered for the Pacific Classic or Jockey Club Gold Cup.

Informative and Prioritize were the other nominees.