Litfin's preview: Three guaranteed pools on Whitney Day
There are three guaranteed pools on the 11-race Whitney Day card: a $250,000 pick five on races 1-5; a $250,000 pick six on races 6-11; and a $750,000 all-stakes late pick four on races 8-11 – the Alfred G. Vanderbilt, Test, Whitney Handicap, and the Lure.
Unlike the Vanderbilt, Test, and Whitney, the Lure, which is scheduled for 1 1/16 miles on the inner turf, is not a Grade 1. In fact, it’s not graded at all, but it attracted four graded stakes winners nevertheless, most notably Big Blue Kitten, last year’s United Nations and Sword Dancer winner, making his first start since the Breeders’ Cup Turf.
“The horse was quite sore after the Breeders’ Cup, and he required a lot of time off, so we’re getting him started later than we would like,” said Chad Brown, who also is bringing back the graded turf stakes winners Dayatthespa and Pianist off layoffs in the De La Rose Stakes (race 7).
“I think the Sword Dancer (Aug. 17) is coming up a little soon for me,” said Brown. “But to give him a race at a mile and a sixteenth might be a better option in the long run for this horse, just to get a race in him and see. If he’s good enough to win, great; if he’s not, it should set us up hopefully for something better the next time we run him.”
Historical stakes par times
Based on races contested on a fast track since 1998, these are the average pace times rounded to the nearest tenth of a second (half-mile in sprints, three-quarters in routes) for the Vanderbilt (formerly the A Phenomenon), Test, and Whitney.
Vanderbilt: 44.90; 1:09.00
Test: 44.70; 1:22.70
Whitney: 1:10.60; 1:48.20
Underscoring the kind of speed and staying power it takes to win the Whitney, the Woodward has been on fast tracks seven times since it was moved to Saratoga in 2006, and the pars for that less prestigious Grade 1 are 1:10.80 and 1:49.00 – four ticks slower on final time.
Cordero races at the Spa
Not the legendary jockey Angel Cordero Jr., but Cordero, a 2-year-old colt, is making his U.S. debut in a maiden special weight scheduled for 1 1/16 miles on the Mellon turf, following a sixth in the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot in June.
“Unfortunately, he bled in the [Chesham], which is the first of any of the horses I have brought over there that have done that,” said trainer Wesley Ward. “With the addition of Lasix, I think the horse will have a real good chance.”
Horse to watch
SAILMATE
Trainer: John Kimmel
Last race: July 31, 9th
Finish: 5th by 4 1/2
Beyer: 88
Pinched back at the break and was positioned well off the leaders as a very slow pace unfolded in the Evan Shipman over a sealed muddy track; it may pay to draw a line through the race when he catches more favorable circumstances.