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 7, 2021
It’s time for one of the biggest races of the SAR meet as the annual Whitney is set to take place. The field will be nearly full for this race that pays valuable BC Classic points and a just as appealing $1,000.000 purse. That’s not fully restored to its highest level, which was $1,500.000, but is in line with the pre- virtual pandemic purse of 2019. One thing that we will still have in common with the 2020 race is that three year olds are not eligible to compete. Last year was the first time we saw that here in the Whitney. We have seen this race be won by the likes of Omni, Barbarino, Atomic Twister, Splash Mountain, and last year’s winner, Tactical. Now, Tactical will look to become the first horse to win this race twice. He won’t see his normal rival, Splash Mountain here, however. Let’s meet this field of thirteen!
#1- Stolen (D J C Racing Stables, ridden by F Geroux)- After winning the $100.000 Saginaw for NY-breds down at BEL last month, Stolen will try for ten times that purse here as he runs in the toughest field of his career. He’s tried the graded ranks a couple times, not hitting the board in either of those, which were not at this level. Generally, he’s been running in ungraded stakes with hit and miss results. Confidence in him is high for his trainer, and this is a big test.
#2- Black And Red (Australia Wide, ridden by P Lopez)- The pride of the Australia Wide barn returns to SAR after having run in the Travers last year. He was a non factor in the race, but found success after, running second in the PA Derby and then winning the BC Dirt Mile. Since then, he has only made two starts since, a pair of fifth place finishes in Grade 2’s. This is a race that the trainer was never able to win back when he was known as the king, so you know he’d love to get this trophy.
#3- Tactical (Mb Stables, ridden by S Ryan)- Last year, Tactical was able to win the Whitney, so now he looks to make history and become the first to win it twice. After winning, he went in a little bit of a funk, by his standards, but began to climb out of it starting with the GP Mile in February, where he was second. He’s managed just one win since last year, the Grade 1 Gold Cup at SA in late May, but his races in general have been very good of late, with three triple digit SRF’s in his last four races. 2-for-2 lifetime at the Spa, each Grade 1’s.
#4- Z Command (Smokey Stover, ridden by J R Velazquez)- It’s not the CCA Oaks nor the Alabama, but that doesn’t stop Z Command from running in the biggest race of the weekend here at SAR. This five year old mare did win the Alabama back in 2019, and took the Personal Ensign last year. So, she likes it too, but now she’s going to get a chance to run against the boys, and I think she will be up for the task given her history at the track. Tough field to win in, but look for her to be good, and carrying five fewer pounds in certainly a positive.
#5- Broken Tap (Arindel, ridden by E Jaramillo)- The six year old gelding makes the 37th start of his career, and will be looking to follow up a strong win in the slop up at WO in the Grade 3 Dominion Day. Overall, he has won 13 times, with three graded wins coming this year. Right now, then, age is just a number with him as he continues to be on strong form. He’s made two career starts at SAR, but has yet to run here in a stake. His signature win right now is the GP Mile. Hey, there’s nothing wrong with that at all, but it would be nice to move that down a notch and call himself a Whitney winner.
#6- Scarlet Glare (Rock Creek, ridden by D Davis)- It’s a big step up for this one that was claimed for $7.000 in May and still actually hasn’t won with his new trainer. Was second here in a starter allowance last month, and he does know how to work well in the morning. Does have one graded attempt in his history, and he lost by 14 lengths. This isn’t where I would have entered him, but obviously the trainer feels good and confident.
#7- Space Commander (Nakamura Stables, ridden by V R Carrasco)- Well, when Tactical won the Gold Cup in May, he had some company in the winner’s circle, because it was in a dead heat with Space Commander. For this gelding, it was his second win of 2021, with the other also a big one: The Pegasus World Cup. Overall, this horse has quietly gone about his business with much less fanfare than Tactical gets, but the runner up in the BC Classic has surpassed $2,400.000 in career earnings, and he is not done yet. This is the first time that he has run at SAR.
#8- Starship El Gran (TwinTowersRacing, ridden by G Saez)- Another horse that is making a big step up in class. In 20 starts, Starship El Gran has won three times, so it’s not as if he was been winning a ton. Mostly a turf runner in his career, he’s only been in a stake once, and that did not go well. Recent works are all on the grass, so it’s hard to get a feel for how he will make the adjustment. Obviously, the trainer sees something behind the scenes, but in the Whitney, I can’t be a believer.
#9- So Profound (Asgar, ridden by D Van Dyke)- We saw him in the Whitney last year, but he did not make much of an impression, finishing only ninth. When he was here, he was coming off a win in the Metropolitan Handicap, and things are that way once again as he duplicated that feat in 2021. Now, he hopes that only “nine” he sees is on his saddlecloth this year. He’s been a lot better over his career, and even finished third in the BC Dirt Mile. Has four triple digit SRF’s in his last five races, so there is promise that he can erase last year’s memory.
#10- Class Edge (Chili King Stables, ridden by L Saez)- Moving on from the “S” names, we now move to the “C” names, as they make up the rest of the starting gate. In recent races, Class Edge may finally be getting better leaving the starting gate, a problem of his dating back well into last year. He’s still near the back early, but is not being left behind totally. His lone win this year saw him actually have a stalking trip, but back to back third place runs show that maybe is rediscovering some old form. Anyone who runs second in the KYD has what it takes to fire out another one. This is his SAR debut.
#11- Champion In Action (Night Rider Stables, ridden by D Cabrera)- This champion has been in action for a while now, with forty career starts, and nine victories. Three of those wins have come since November, and they are highlighted by the Grade 3 PRM Cornhusker Handicap, which was his last start, last month. That runs for a good purse but didn’t feature the type of field he faces here. Don’t worry though, he is a Grade 1 winner, taking the 2019 Gold Cup. He’s still clicking, though some others get me excited a little more than he does. I still would not be shocked if I am talking about him winning afterward.
#12- Charleys Latte (John Henry, ridden by S X Bridgmohan)- The reigning BC Classic winner will be a part of our field, and he could not be running any better than he is right now. He has not raced a ton since winning the big race nine months ago, and initially he struggled in a couple of races at GP, including the Pegasus World Cup. Ultimately, this led to prior trainer Estero Farms selling the Pinnacle West colt in private sales for $600.000, where he was picked up by John Henry. With his new trainer, Charleys Latte is a perfect 2-for-2, winning the Grade 2 Alysheba and Grade 2 Foster. This will be his first time running at the Spa.
#13- Crack Dab (Gdp Inc., ridden by Ru Gonzalez)- He was the runner up to Tactical in the Whitney last year. At the time, it ended a four race winning streak, a run that saw him climb the class ladder. He followed that race up by winning the Pacific Classic, and all seemed great for him. Then, his career seemed to hit a stalemate, with a dud in the BC Classic. Lately, though, he is showing signs of bursting out of it. This including winning the Hals Hope and running second in the Foster. He’s definitely one to watch here!
Prediction: 7-12-3-4
— NS
Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES
