Grade 1 winner Happy Saver awaits Whitney decision

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher said a possible Saturday morning work will determine if Grade 1 winner Happy Saver will race in the Grade 1, $1 million Whitney at Saratoga on Aug. 7.

A Wertheimer and Frere homebred, the son of Super Saver conquered his lone Grade 1 test when outdueling subsequent Dubai World Cup (G1) hero Mystic Guide in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) in October at Belmont Park.

Click here for Saratoga entries and results.

Happy Saver fired off a seven-month layoff with vigor when defeating allowance optional claiming company May 28 going a one-turn mile over Big Sandy in his seasonal debut before tasting defeat for the first time last out in the Suburban (G2) on July 3 over a sloppy and sealed Belmont Park main track.

“We were hoping to get a work in today, but that didn’t happen, so we’ll see what goes on tomorrow,” Pletcher said. “We’ll breeze on the main track tomorrow morning if we're happy with the surface.”

Pletcher has previously won the Whitney with Left Bank (2002), Lawyer Ron (2007) and Cross Traffic (2013).

Happy Saver drew the outside post in the six-horse Suburban field, appearing to flatten out in the stretch, but ultimately was game enough to round out the trifecta, finishing 2¾ lengths behind winner Max Player.

“He ran well in only his second start of the year. He had a wide trip, but it was a solid effort. We’ll see how he goes tomorrow and make a decision,” Pletcher said.