Whitney Stakes 2017: Odds and Analysis

War Admiral, Tom Fool, Kelso, Dr. Fager, and Alydar are just a few of the big names that have won the Whitney in years gone by. Gun Runner will look to add his name to that illustrious 89-year roll call, when he faces six others Saturday in the historic affair at Saratoga. Not only is it prestigious, but the $1.2 million purse makes it one of the richest races in American racing. The nine-furlong feature also acts as a "Win & You're In" qualifier for the $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar. Without further ado, let's take a look at the field of seven, including my projected odds and analysis.

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6) Gun Runner (3-5) - The class of the field has never looked better. After finishing off a strong 3yo campaign in style, the chestnut son of Candy Ride has only improved in 2017. His Razorback was dominant, he ran his eyeballs out in Dubai, and then his Stephen Foster may well have been his best one yet, winning off by seven lengths in 1:47 and change. After Arrogate's flop in the San Diego, he could make a statement as a potential Horse of the Year on Saturday. Perhaps the one thing you could say against him is that he was a well beaten third in Arrogate's Travers, in his only previous race at Saratoga. There is a rabbit in here, but that will likely only give him a horse to track for the first half of the race, before going right by. He should be able to handle this bunch even at the 'Graveyard of Favorites'. Strictly the One to Beat

1) War Story (8-1) - A horse who has never been steered clear of top competition, he may now also be in career best form. Two races back, the five-year-old gelding just missed in the rich Charles Town Classic, at this distance, before coming back to earn his first graded stakes win last time at Belmont. Top rider Javier Castellano will again be in the saddle after guiding him to victory in the Brooklyn in their first race together. He'll need to find a less than 100% percent Gun Runner to win this, but if that happens, I think he has as good a chance as anyone to pull the upset.  Brought his Lucky Rabbit

5) Keen Ice (4-1) - Finally got the job done last time when impressively powering by Shaman Ghost in the Grade 2 Suburban. The problem was that win only raised his career record to 3-for-22 lifetime. Granted, two of those wins were big ones, including the 2015 Travers at Saratoga, but both of them came at the distance of ten furlongs. I don't believe he is as good at nine furlongs, and as the clear second choice, I'll take my chances against the stretch runner coming up with another big one on Saturday. Having said that, the addition of the War Story's rabbit does not hurt his chances. Never Paired Wins

4) Tu Brutus (10-1) - Imported from Chile, this son of Scat Daddy has run some strong races since arriving to the U.S. and the barn of Gary Contessa. Unfortunately, those efforts came against far less than what he will find in Gun Runner. He has the speed to be close early, and that is how he has been most effective, but as we learned in the Brooklyn against War Story, he probably lacks the class to stick around when the big horse finds another gear. Big Beyer Back in April

2) Breaking Lucky (12-1) - He is not the most consistent of runners, but he has proven on occasion to be able to put a scare into good horses. Perhaps his career best came right here at Saratoga last summer, when he was involved in a four-horse photo for the win in the Grade 1 Woodward. If he does offer his best, he could once again fill out the exotics, but he just has not looked like the horse to take down Gun Runner in their first two meetings, including the recent Stephen Foster. Occasionally Runs Well

7) Discreet Lover (30-1) - Other than an allowance victory at Parx, there are no wins showing on this guy's recent form. He has not come too close in four stakes races since then, and this will be his toughest test yet. If you decide to back him in here, the best I can say is good luck. In Tough

3) Cautious Giant (50-1) - Once a decent sprinter on the West Coast, he looks to have lost a step of late. Of course, that will not matter down the stretch of this, as his one job is to make life a little difficult for the big favorite for as long as he can. Here to Set the Table