Big Money in the Whitney Day Card

 

How often is there an eleven race card in which the smallest purse is $90,000? In addition, the first six races on that card do not include a stakes race. This describes Saturday’s Whitney Day card at Saratoga.

The card boasts total purses of $3,137,000 that includes three grade one stakes and two $100,000 overnight stakes. The smallest field is eight for the Vanderbilt with seven of the races having full fields. 

 

Race 1 - $90,000 – NY-bred Alw90000N1X – 3YO and Up - 5½ furlongs – TURF

14 entered including 3 for Main Track Only

Race 2 - $98,000 – Md Sp Wt 98K – 3YO and Up – F & M – 7 furlongs

10 entered

Race 3 - $98,000 – Md Sp Wt 98K – 2YOs – 1 1/16 – TURF

15 entered including 1 for MTO

This maiden special weight includes #5 Cordero who is named for the Hall of Fame rider. Owner Jake Ballis named the horse to honor his friend. Angel Cordero Jr., the jockey, is the third leading rider in the history of Saratoga behind John Velazquez and Jerry Bailey. Of course, Cordero is also the agent for Velazquez, who is named to ride Cordero, the horse. The son of Giant’s Causeway is making his first start in the United States after debuting at Ascot in June.

Race 4 - $105,000 – OC62/N2X – 3YO and Up – F & M – 1 1/16 – TURF

10 entered with 1 MTO

Race 5 - $98,000 – Md Sp Wt 98K – 2YOs – 6 furlongs

14 entered

Trainer Todd Pletcher has the WinStar home-bred #1 Royal Son (ML 2-1) in this six furlong contest. Sired by Tiznow, Royal Son is out of the mare Mama Nadine, a stakes winner of $88,105. In 2014 at Saratoga, Pletcher has already won five races for two-year-olds.

Race 6 - $100,000 – OC75/N1X – 3YO – Fillies – 1 1/16 – TURF

16 entered with 1 MTO

Race 7 - $100,000 – DeLaRoseB 100K – 4YO and Up – F & M – 1 mile – TURF

9 entered

Two graded stakes veterans, #7 Pianist (ML 3-1) and #8 Dayatthespa (ML 2-1) make their 2014 debuts in the De La Rose for trainer Chad Brown. In 2013 Pianist won the Gallorette (G3) and the Athenia (G3). Dayatthespa won the Queen Elizabeth II (G1) in 2012 and was grade one placed last year.

Race 8 - $350,000 – AGVndbtH – G1 – 3YO and Up – 6 furlongs

This field of eight is the most challenging in the Pick 4 sequence with virtually all of the horses having a chance to win the Vanderbilt. If I was pushed to narrow my choices, the best I could do is to eliminate the 2, 3, and 4. However, I am going to use the ALL button here because I have standout picks the rest of the way.

Race 9 - $500,000 – Test – G1 – 3YO – Fillies – 7 furlongs

12 entered

The full field in the Test has plenty of early speed and sets up for my top choice, #7 Sweet Reason. I will single Sweet Reason on three of my tickets and spread on another ticket using her with the other likely closers, #3 Sweet Whiskey and #6 Street Story.

Race 10 - $1,500,000 – WhitneyH – G1 – 3YO and Up – 1 1/8

9 entered

If I was asked to select the top horse in this Pick Four it would be #5 Palace Malice. Even in this very strong Whitney field Palace Malice is a stand out. His perfect four performances in 2014 make him the best horse in the country right now. The Dogwood runner won the Met Mile by impressively beating Goldencents, who is the defending Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner. Palace Malice is clearly is a better horse at longer distances. I will spread on one ticket with #1 Will Take Charge, #4 Itsmyluckyday, and #6 Departing.

Race 11 - $100,000 – LureB 100K – 4YO and Up – 1 1/16 – TURF

14 entered with 2 MTO

In the Lure, #4 Big Blue Kitten will make his 2014 debut for the Ramseys and trainer Chad Brown. This son of Kitten’s Joy towers over the other runners in this full field and will be a single on three tickets. With the others very evenly matched I will spread and use seven horses [3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12] on another ticket.

Here is my four ticket All-Stakes Pick Four play, which costs only $60:

If you prefer a one ticket play in the Pick Four, I offer this to you:

Good luck and enjoy the great racing on Whitney Day at Saratoga.