Saturday plays: Get a price at the Spa on this Test best bet

Even though Cody’s Wish brings class to the Grade 1, $1 million Whitney Stakes at Saratoga on Saturday, it might not make sense to rely on him at low odds when he shows zero wins at the race distance. Zandon, the second choice on the morning line, at least owns a nine-furlong win.

Before diving more into the Whitney though, here are thoughts on the Grade 1, $500,000 Test Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at the seven-furlong distance.

Saratoga race 8: Test Stakes (G1)

This grueling sprint race contains a few heavy speedballs, including the undefeated Maple Leaf Mel, Munnys Gold and Clearly Unhinged. All three fillies figure to show their speed and make the pace run on the hot side.

Dorth Vader cuts back in distance in this spot after running second by a head to Pretty Mischievous in the Acorn Stakes (G1) at Belmont and fading late to fifth in the Kentucky Oaks after stalking the pace in third.  

Regardless of the distance, Dorth Vader loves to stalk the leaders. She receives a good opportunity here to sit behind three speedballs and wait for the moment to strike. At seven furlongs, her punch will look stronger too.

Pretty Mischievous deserves a spot next to Dorth Vader in multi-race wagers. If only playing a win and place bet though, then Dorth Vader offers better value at roughly the same ability considering she only lost by a head to the same opponent at Belmont.

Dorth Vader is the best bet of the day.

Use in multi-race wagers: 1,6

Win/place: 6 (at 7/2 or longer)

Saratoga race 10: Whitney Stakes (G1)

Cody’s Wish has established himself as the best horse in the country from seven furlongs to one mile. That last part is key. Even with the right pedigree, some horses do not perform the same way when they stretch out.

Even though Cody’s Wish shows a number of stamina influences in his blood, including his sire Curlin, his damsire Tapit and the four-time route winning Dance Card as his dam, he still needs to prove he can succeed at longer distances.

In Cody’s Wish’s only nine-furlong attempt, which came as a maiden back in July 2021 in a maiden special weight on this course, he was rank early on and faded to third after a premature move to the front on the backside.

One viable alternative is Zandon, who enters this race after three straight losses in one-turn miles. Those efforts include a runner-up finish to Cody’s Wish in the Metropolitan Handicap (G1) and fourth in the Cigar Mile (G1).

Before his strange detour into one-turn mile races, Zandon posted his career-best TimeformUS Speed Figure when second to Taiba in the Pennsylvania Derby (G1) last September. Earlier that year, he also won the Blue Grass Stakes (G1) before running third in the Kentucky Derby. This horse owns plenty of stamina.

Now, Zandon stretches back out to nine furlongs while regaining the services of Joel Rosario, who rode him when second in the Pennsylvania Derby. Maybe Zandon can sit closer to the leader as he did in the Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) on this course last year when the pace went slow.

As for the fact Zandon only owns two wins, he ran into the top 3-year-old Epicenter many times last year and that affected his win record. Both the one-mile attempts and the losses against Epicenter are forgivable flaws on his record.

In the Whitney, Zandon is the right horse at the right price.

For second, Charge It, White Abarrio and Last Samurai look usable.

Charge It enters this race off a big win in the Suburban Stakes (G2), while White Abarrio ran third in the Metropolitan Handicap and Last Samurai ended up an even fourth in the Stephen Foster Stakes (G1) held at Ellis Park. If Cody's Wish misfires, any one of them can move up.

Win: 1 (at 7/2 or longer)

Exacta wheel: 1 over 2,4,5