By My Standards will take another shot at Tom's d'Etat in Whitney

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – By My Standards was attempting to establish himself as the top older male in training when he went into the Grade 2 Stephen Foster at Churchill Downs on June 27. That’s when he ran into Tom’s d’Etat, who asserted his authority and class to dominate the Stephen Foster by 4 1/4 lengths over By My Standards.

Saturday, the two will renew acquaintances as part of a five-horse field entered Wednesday for Saturday’s Grade 1, $750,000 Whitney Stakes at Saratoga. Tom’s d’Etat drew post 5 and was established as the 6-5 morning-line favorite by David Aragona, the linemaker for the New York Racing Association. By My Standards drew post 1 and is the 9-2 fourth choice. Improbable (post 2), the Hollywood Gold Cup winner last out, and Code of Honor (post 3), the Travers winner here last year, are the co-second choices at 5-2. Mr. Buff, who drew post 4, is the 12-1 longshot.

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By My Standards, a son of Goldencents, won his first three starts this year, an allowance at Fair Grounds, the Grade 2 New Orleans Classic, and the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap. In the Stephen Foster, By My Standards was fourth early then fifth while three wide under Corey Lanerie.

Meanwhile, Miguel Mena had Tom’s d’Etat sitting second off longshot Pirate’s Punch. Tom’s d’Etat poked his head in front at the three-furlong pole and widened his advantage from there under minimal encouragement. The final time of 1:47.30 for 1 1/8 miles was just .02 off Victory Gallop’s 21-year-old track record.

“I never expected him to be in front of us early on,” said Bret Calhoun, the trainer of By My Standards. “When you let that horse get in front of you and get a half-mile in 48, nobody is going to run by him. Miguel made a smart tactical move right away from the gate and put him in front of us. Our horse ran good, that horse ran a freak race.”

By My Standards’s speed figures have improved this year from last when he was a 3-year-old on the Triple Crown trail. Due to a foot injury, Calhoun stopped on the horse following his 12th-place finish (elevated to 11th following the disqualification of Maximum Security) in the Kentucky Derby. Calhoun felt By My Standards would mature into a better 4-year-old, and so far he’s been right.

“Physically, he’s a stronger horse,” Calhoun said. “He’s always been a very intelligent horse, the mental aspect has always been there for him.”

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By My Standards will be the last horse to arrive for the Whitney. Due to protocols that would have required By My Standards to train after regular training hours at Saratoga as the day heated up, Calhoun has elected to leave the horse in Kentucky until after he trains Thursday morning. By My Standards will van to Saratoga, where he is expected to arrive on Friday morning.

Jose Ortiz, who is the leading rider through the first two weeks of the meet, will ride By My Standards.

The Whitney, which offers a fees-paid berth into the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 7 at Keeneland, will go as race 9 on a 12-race card that begins at 1:10 p.m.