Saratoga 2022: Pletcher will saddle 3 in Saturday's Whitney

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher will have three chances to win his fourth Grade 1 Whitney when he saddles Life Is Good, Americanrevolution and Happy Saver in Saturday’s $1 million, nine-furlong test for older horses. The 95th renewal of the Whitney will offer a “win and you’re in” berth to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic in November at Keeneland.

Life Is Good, a 4-year-old Into Mischief Bay, boasts a record of 9:7-1-0 for purse earnings in excess of $3.5 million. He notched Grade 1 wins in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile in November at Del Mar and the Pegasus World Cup Invitational in January at Gulfstream Park.

Owned by CHC Inc. and WinStar Farm, Life Is Good enters from a win in the John A. Nerud (G2) on July 2 at Belmont. He breezed a half-mile in 48.25 Saturday over the main track under exercise rider Amelia Green.

"He was his normal impressive self," Pletcher said.

Americanrevolution, a New York-bred son of Constitution, captured the Grade 1 Cigar Mile Handicap in December at Aqueduct Racetrack. He has posted four triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures in his last five starts, including a 108 for his runner-up effort to Whitney rival Olympiad last out in the Grade 2 Stephen Foster (G2) on July 2 at Churchill Downs.

Also owned by CHC and WinStar, he worked in company with Happy Saver on Saturday over the Saratoga main track, covering a half-mile in 49.75.

“I thought it went well, and we were very happy with the breeze," Pletcher said.

Happy, a homebred owned by Wertheimer and Frere, boasts a ledger of 10: 5-4-1 for purse earnings of $988,300. He captured the 2020 Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) at Belmont and finished second last year in his title defense to Max Player at Saratoga.

Irad Ortiz Jr. will ride Life Is Good, and Luis Saez retains the mount on Americanrevolution. A rider for Happy Saver, most recently piloted by Ortiz, is yet to be determined.

Whisper Hill Farm’s Charge It breezed a half-mile in 49.06 Saturday over the Saratoga main track in his first breeze back after a 23-length win in the one-mile Dwyer (G3) on July 2 at Belmont.

Pletcher said he was pleased with the effort as he readies the Tapit grey for the $1.25 million Travers (G1) on Aug, 27 at the Spa.

“We’re very pleased. We're right on target,” Pletcher said. “We set out to have four breezes like we did before the Dwyer and the first one went really well. We’ll do a little more in the next couple weeks. So far, so good.”

Repole Stable’s Fearless posted a 3/4-length score in the 1 3/4-mile Birdstone on Thursday at Saratoga. The 6-year-old Ghostzapper gelding rallied strongly down the rail to secure the narrow win over a good main track that was soaked by intermittent showers.

“I don’t think he liked it out there at all. We had that downpour and the track was a little funny and pretty much won it on pure courage,” Pletcher said.

Pletcher said the millionaire bay exited the race in good order and would consider turning him back for the Greenwood Cup (G3) at 12 furlongs on Sept. 24 at Parx.