Study Guide: 2024 Whitney Stakes

Aug 02, 2024 J. Keeler Johnson/TwinSpires.com

An excellent 12-horse field has turned out for Saturday's $1 million Whitney (G1) at Saratoga.

The 1 1/8-mile race awards a 'Win and You're In' berth to the 2024 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Del Mar, and this prize—coupled with the rich purse—has attracted 10 graded stakes winners to wage battle.

Let's review the field in horse-by-horse fashion:

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Post Time

Start(s): 11
Wins: 8
Place: 2
Show: 1

Owner: Hillwood Stable
Breeder: Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Bowman, Dr. Brooke Bowman, and Milton P. Higgins
Trainer: Brittany Russell
Jockey: Sheldon Russell

Top Speed Rating: (104) when winning the Jennings S. at Laurel Park.
Total Earnings: $817,910

Sire: Frosted
Dam: Vielsalm
Color: Gray/roan

Victorious in eight of his 11 starts, Post Time is steadily improving and exits a runner-up finish in the prestigious Metropolitan H. (G1) at Saratoga. But he'll need another step forward to turn the tables on National Treasure, who dominated the Metropolitan by 6 1/4 lengths.

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Disarm

Start(s): 11
Wins: 3
Place: 3
Show: 2

Owner: Winchell Thoroughbreds
Breeder: Winchell Thoroughbreds
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Jockey: Joel Rosario

Top Speed Rating: (104) when winning the Matt Winn (G3) at Ellis Park.
Total Earnings: $1,086,790

Sire: Gun Runner
Dam: Easy Tap
Color: Chestnut

2023 Kentucky Derby (G1) fourth-place finisher Disarm unleashed a big late rally to finish second in last year's Travers (G1) at Saratoga, but his latest effort—a tiring sixth in the Stephen Foster (G1)—was below his best. He'll need a rebound to factor against this deep Whitney field.

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National Treasure

Start(s): 13
Wins: 4
Place: 2
Show: 2

Owner: SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Jay A. Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan
Breeder: Peter E. Blum Thoroughbreds
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Flavien Prat

Top Speed Rating: (109) when finishing second in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) at Santa Anita.
Total Earnings: $5,372,000

Sire: Quality Road
Dam: Treasure
Color: Bay

National Treasure has won some of racing's biggest prizes, including the Preakness (G1), Pegasus World Cup (G1), and the above-mentioned Metropolitan in which he led all the way to beat Post Time by 6 1/4 lengths. A speedy frontrunner, National Treasure looms as the horse to beat while returning to Saratoga for the Whitney.

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Warrior Johny

Start(s): 19
Wins: 4
Place: 3
Show: 5

Owner: Rigney Racing
Breeder: Mr. and Mrs. William L. Pape
Trainer: Philip Bauer
Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione

Top Speed Rating: (111) when winning a Saratoga allowance optional claimer.
Total Earnings: $434,488

Sire: Cairo Prince
Dam: Warrior Girl
Color: Dark bay/brown

Warrior Johny posted a massive 111 Brisnet Speed rating when taking a 1 1/8-mile $80,000 allowance optional claimer at Saratoga last month by four lengths. But can he repeat the feat? That's hard to say; the 111 marked a giant leap forward from Warrior Johny's previous form. But it could be risky to underestimate this 20-1 longshot, who is 2-for-3 at Saratoga.

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First Mission

Start(s): 9
Wins: 5
Place: 2
Show: 0

Owner: Godolphin
Breeder: Godolphin
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Florent Geroux

Top Speed Rating: (106) when winning the Alysheba (G2) at Churchill Downs.
Total Earnings: $1,321,670

Sire: Street Sense
Dam: Elude
Color: Dark bay/brown

First Mission showed flashes of serious talent when dominating the Essex H. (G3) and Alysheba (G2), but he regressed when fourth in the Stephen Foster (G1) last time out. He's missed the top three in both of his Grade 1 starts and needs better to take top honors in the Whitney.

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Il Miracolo

Start(s): 20
Wins: 4
Place: 5
Show: 4

Owner: Eduardo Soto
Breeder: Willow Oaks Stable
Trainer: Antonio Sano
Jockey: Manny Franco

Top Speed Rating: (101) when finishing third in the Alysheba (G2) at Churchill Downs.
Total Earnings: $726,635

Sire: Gun Runner
Dam: Tapit's World
Color: Chestnut

Il Miracolo has recorded top-three finishes in a bevy of graded stakes, including last year's Pennsylvania Derby (G1), but along the way he's been defeated by Whitney rivals like National Treasure and First Mission. He'll need a step forward to turn the tables.

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Crupi

Start(s): 16
Wins: 5
Place: 3
Show: 4

Owner: Repole Stable and St. Elias Stables
Breeder: Claiborne Farm
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.

Top Speed Rating: (101) when winning a Saratoga allowance.
Total Earnings: $891,750

Sire: Curlin
Dam: Don'tforgetaboutme
Color: Chestnut

Crupi has done some of his best work racing 1 1/4 miles and farther, winning the Suburban (G2) and finishing second in the Brooklyn (G2). The 1 1/8-mile distance of the Whitney may prove a little short for this stretch-running colt, though he did finish third to National Treasure in the 1 1/8-mile Pegasus World Cup (G1).

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Tumbarumba

Start(s): 15
Wins: 5
Place: 5
Show: 2

Owner: Wathnan Racing
Breeder: Coteau Grove Farms
Trainer: Brian Lynch
Jockey: Luis Saez

Top Speed Rating: (105) when finishing third in the Oklahoma Derby (G3) at Remington Park.
Total Earnings: $538,190

Sire: Oscar Performance
Dam: Naive Enough
Color: Bay

Tumbarumba rarely finishes out of the top three and won the Fred W. Hooper (G3) during the winter at Gulfstream Park, but he's yet to tackle a Grade 1 race and may find the Whitney waters to be a bit deep.

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Bright Future

Start(s): 9
Wins: 5
Place: 0
Show: 2

Owner: Repole Stable and St. Elias Stables
Breeder: Clearsky Farms
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Javier Castellano

Top Speed Rating: (105) when winning the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) at Saratoga.
Total Earnings: $926,940

Sire: Curlin
Dam: Sophia's Song
Color: Chestnut

Bright Future is 2-for-2 at Saratoga, where he won the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) last summer. He recently kicked off 2024 with a rallying victory in the Salvator Mile (G3) at Monmouth Park and shouldn't be underestimated while returning to Saratoga for trainer Todd Pletcher, who has won the Whitney four times.

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Skippylongstocking

Start(s): 24
Wins: 8
Place: 2
Show: 5

Owner: Daniel Alonso
Breeder: Brushy Hill
Trainer: Saffie Joseph Jr.
Jockey: Jose Ortiz

Top Speed Rating: (107) when finishing third in the Wood Memorial (G2) at Aqueduct.
Total Earnings: $2,388,985

Sire: Exaggerator
Dam: Twinkling
Color: Bay

Skippylongstocking has been on a roll since last summer, counting victories in the Charles Town Classic (G2), Oaklawn H. (G2), and Challenger (G3) on his record. But he struggled a little when third in the Stephen Foster (G1) last time out, which brought his record against Grade 1 competition to 0-for-7.

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Arthur's Ride

Start(s): 6
Wins: 3
Place: 2
Show: 0

Owner: Glassman Racing
Breeder: Helen Barbazon, Joseph Barbazon, and Tapit Syndicate
Trainer: Bill Mott
Jockey: Junior Alvarado

Top Speed Rating: (106) when winning a Saratoga allowance optional claimer.
Total Earnings: $214,955

Sire: Tapit
Dam: Points of Grace
Color: Gray/roan

Arthur's Ride was tons the best in a $62,500 allowance optional claimer racing 1 1/4 miles at Saratoga two months ago, leading all the way to dominate by 12 3/4 lengths with a 106 Brisnet Speed rating. He's facing much tougher competition in the Whitney, but a repeat of his last performance will make Arthur's Ride a win threat.

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Charge It

Start(s): 15
Wins: 4
Place: 3
Show: 1

Owner: Whisper Hill Farm
Breeder: Whisper Hill Farm
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: John Velazquez

Top Speed Rating: (109) when winning the Suburban (G2) at Belmont Park.
Total Earnings: $881,270

Sire: Gun Runner
Dam: Tapit's World
Color: Chestnut

Charge It is excellent on his best day, as he demonstrated when taking the 2023 Suburban (G2) by 4 3/4 lengths with a 109 Brisnet Speed rating. But he's been defeated in all five of his starts since then, including two against easier competition this year, and he needs to recapture his best form if he's going to factor in the Whitney.