Saratoga: Flat Out likely to pass Whitney for Woodward

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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - After watching Suburban winner Flat Out work four furlongs in 49.61 seconds Monday morning at Saratoga, trainer Bill Mott said that he will “most likely” skip the Whitney Invitational on Aug. 3 and point to the Woodward on Aug. 31. Both races are Grade 1 events worth $750,000.

“He maybe wasn’t quite as sharp as he had been,” Mott said of Flat Out’s work. “He was going okay, but before he would take you there.”

On Sunday, the New York Racing Association released its first round of invitations for the Whitney. Among the 14 who are expected are Alpha, Cross Traffic, Fort Larned, Mucho Macho Man, and Ron the Greek. Successful Dan, Fast Falcon, and Golden Ticket are possible.

Optimizer, who worked a half-mile in 51.23 seconds on the Oklahoma dirt surface Monday, also was invited, but trainer D. Wayne Lukas said he is inclined to wait for the Arlington Million.