The Whitney (Grade 1) (BC)- $1,000.000 Purse
SAR- For Four Year Olds and Upward
One Mile and One Eighth on the Dirt
August 2, 2025
One of the biggest races of the year at SAR takes place in a few hours as 20th running of the Grade 1 Whitney will run, offering its automatic spot into the BC Classic. Previous winners of the race include Barbarino, Atomic Twister, Splash Mountain, and Tactical. Last year, South China Sea got the win for Fractious. He’s still active but no longer competing at high levels. Though, who knows, maybe that will change because he is winning. Anyway, this is a field of eleven and will be a very abbreviated preview since I do not have a lot of time before it goes to post. This was not one of my assigned races, but I cannot just let this race go uncovered:
1- Blazing (Maxmillion Farm, ridden by Jo Dominguez)- Needs to rebound after struggling in the mud last time out in the Grade 1 Foster at CD. Three of his last four races have not been good for him, but the one that was, was the Pegasus World Cup. Look for a big race out of him right here.
2- Ocala Secret (Grimley, ridden by E Jaramillo)- Looked great when he won the Grade 3 Essex Handicap in March, and has earned triple digit SRF’s in three of his last four races. The Suburban was a struggle but can also be a throw out.
3- Wahpekute Sioux (Mb Stables, ridden by J R Velazquez)- Continues to get great results, and a win here would extend his winning streak to three. Had no issue in the mud in the Foster, registering a 104 SRF in a wire-to-wire win.
4- Quiet Return (John Henry, ridden by M E Smith)- In his third race with John Henry, Quiet Return looked like the horse that won the 2023 KYD. It was an impressive come from behind victory in the Metropolitan Handicap, with a 103 SRF.
5- Big Bang Boom (Rock Creek, ridden by P Husbands)- The mud got to him in the Foster, but prior to that he was strong in the OP Handicap, getting the win. The Foster was the first time since October 2023 that Big Bang Boom did not place in the top four.
6- Sick Boi (Royalty Stables, ridden by F Geroux)- Looking to pick up the first stake win of his career. Overall, he’s won four of twelve, but they are all in overnights. He’s had some close calls, like in the Grade 3 Blame, and will get a true test here.
7- Killer Instinct (Mb Stables, ridden by M Franco)- Dirt or turf, it doesn’t matter for this six-year-old that will now make his 42nd career start. He has four consecutive 102 SRF’s and has won his last two: the Grade 2 Man O War and the Grade 2 Suburban. Expect another good one out of him.
8- Eight West Party (TwinTowersRacing, ridden by J Lezcano)- This is career start #51 for the seven-year-old and his third straight Whitney. He has not cashed a check in one of them yet and will have to be at his best to change that here. Not an unreasonable ask though, as he was third in the Foster last time out.
9- Bad Debt (D J C Racing Stables, ridden by P Lopez)- Another one that comes here out of the Foster, where he ran fourth. The 2024 KYD winner has one win in five starts this year, which was an optional claimer April. Could be lost in the shuffle with the other names here, but he should have a decent shot.
10- Fried Chicken (Angelos Stable, ridden by S Elliott)- Claimed last fall for $16.000, and has been great while running for Angelos Stable. His big win this year came in the Grade 1 Ali in April, and he also ran in the Foster last time out but was a non-factor.
11- Face The Lunatic (Martyparty, ridden by Jam Rodriguez)- Won the Birdstone here last August, and while has consistently hit the board since then, he’d only been in the winner’s circle one time. That was in the Grade 3 KY Cup Classic at TP in March. However, if he runs this like he did the Suburban, where he was third, he can’t be ruled out.
Prediction: 3-4-7-1
— NS
Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES