Whitney Stakes offers a "Win and You're In" berth to the Breeders' Cup Classic

The 99th running of the $1-million Grade 1 Whitney Stakes at Saratoga Race Course on Saturday, August 8 offers a "Win and You're In" berth to the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Classic in October at Keeneland.

The field for the 2026 Whitney will be posted here as horses are confirmed.

Sovereignty and Baeza Training For G1 Whitney

July 25 - Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott sent out reigning Horse of the Year Sovereignty and Grade 1-winner Baeza to post works over Saratoga Race Course's Oklahoma dirt training track on Saturday as they prepare for the Grade 1, $1 million Whitney on August 8 here, a "Win and You're In" qualifier for the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Classic in October at Keeneland.

Godolphin's Kentucky homebred Sovereignty, with assistant trainer Neil Poznansky up, started his work a bit ahead of workmate Thunder Roll, who closed the gap in the turn and finished up on the outside. Sovereignty kept about a half-length in front at the wire and was timed by New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) clockers covering five furlongs in 1:01 flat, with Thunder Roll timed in 1:00 and 3/5 seconds.

"It was good," Mott said. "Very good. Felt he was on the bridle, cruising nicely."

The winner of last year's Grade 1 Kentucky Derby, Grade 1 Belmont Stakes and Grade 1 Travers has made two starts this year, finishing second in the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap in April and third in the Grade 1 Stephen Foster last out on June 27 at Churchill Downs. His work this week comes on the heels of a sharp five-furlong breeze last week over the Oklahoma in 1:00.25.

Earlier in the morning, NYRA clockers caught C R K Stable and Grandview Equine's Baeza covering five furlongs in 1:01 and 1/5 in company with unraced 3-year-old Veblen.

"He was very good, very sharp, breezed well, galloped out good and came back good," Mott said.

Baeza has put forth two solid efforts this year in his first outings for Mott after he took over training duties for the son of McKinzie following the passing of trainer John Shirreffs, who will be inducted into racing's Hall of Fame in two weeks. In his seasonal bow in May, Baeza hesitated and then lunged at the start of the Grade 2 Alysheba at Churchill and still rallied to be third just three-quarter-lengths behind the top pair of Corporate Power and Skippylongstocking, who were a neck apart.

Last out in the Foster, Baeza was unfortunate again at the start, breaking belatedly and running in last-of-5. He made a six-wide rally under Flavien Prat and came on late with an impressive turn-of-foot, but landed second 1 1/4 lengths shy of the victorious Magnitude, who both he and Sovereignty will face again in the Whitney.

Junior Alvarado has the call from post 4-of-6 on Wednesday.

Magnitude Preps For Grade 1 Whitney

July 25 - Magnitude (Winchell Thoroughbreds) worked five furlongs in 1:00.20 on Saturday (July 25) over the Oklahoma dirt training track as he prepares for Saratoga Race Course's nine-furlong Grade 1, $1 million Whitney on August 8, a "Win and You're In" for the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Classic in October at Keeneland.

Trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, the 4-year-old Not This Time bay completed his breeze with jockey Jose Ortiz up and to the outside of Grade 2-winner Tiztastic.

"I'm awfully happy with him," Asmussen said. "The conditions this morning were ideal. It was a nice, cool morning. The racetrack is in great shape. He's doing extremely well up here. Obviously, we are very excited about the Whitney."

Magnitude is 3-for-3 as a 4-year-old and has already banked over $8.3 million this year. He launched his campaign with a win in the Grade 3 Razorback Handicap in February at Oaklawn Park, and went overseas the following month to capture the Group 1 Dubai World Cup ahead of a last-out score in the Grade 1 Stephen Foster on June 27 at Churchill Downs.

"He's had a huge year, and he's trained like that," said Asmussen, who trained 2017 Whitney winner Gun Runner.

Magnitude is 14-8-2-1 overall with in excess of $9.6 million in earnings. His lone effort at the Spa was a distant third in last year's Grade 1 DraftKings Travers won by subsequent Horse of the Year Sovereignty.

Upcoming stakes probables for Asmussen at the Spa include Obliteration [Grade 2 Amsterdam], Chip Honcho [Grade 2 Jim Dandy presented by Mohegan Sun], Booked [Grade 2 Saratoga Special], and Washton [Grade 3 Adirondack].

Asmussen added that Spendthrift Farm's Goodall is pointed to the local Grade 1, $500,000 Test presented by Ticketmaster, a seven-furlong sprint for sophomore fillies, on August 8 Whitney Day.

The Yaupon bay was second last out in the local 6 1/2-furlong Grade 3 Victory Ride on July 10. There, she stalked the pace and held a two-length advantage at the stretch call before being run down by longshot Sippin Pretty. Goodall entered that spot from a win in the six-furlong Jersey Girl in June here, which was her second career stakes win following the Purple Martin in March at Oaklawn Park.

"Solid filly," Asmussen said. "Need her spot on for the Test. I think that, hopefully the circumstances of that race will be a tighter racetrack than she caught last time. She'd benefit from that."

Phileas Fogg Has Eyes Set On Grade 1 Whitney Stakes

July 24 - Phileas Fogg (Jupiter Stables) breezed a solo half-mile in 48.73 seconds on Friday over Saratoga Race Course's main track in preparation for the local nine-furlong Grade 1, $1 million Whitney on August 8, a "Win and You're In" for the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Classic in October at Keeneland.

Trainer Gustavo Rodriguez was aboard Phileas Fogg for the work, which was the 6-year-old millionaire Astern gelding's first move since a 10-length romp in the Grade 2 Suburban presented by Subourbon Life on July 4 here - a race he also won last year by a head.

"Everything went nicely. I breezed the horse myself because I didn't want him to go too fast," Rodriguez said. "The clockers got him in 48 and three, and I wanted to go 49 and change, but 48 and three is close enough to 49."

Rodriguez confirmed Phileas Fogg is targeting the Whitney.

"Yes, we are," Rodriguez said. "We just hope that the horse can stay healthy and if he is healthy and moving beautifully, we are going to run in the Whitney. Today's work was beautiful. I didn't even move, I broke and didn't want to go too fast. He came back to the barn and everything looks good so far."

Rodriguez entered Tommy Torres' Gulfy in Wednesday's Listed $150,000 Curlin presented by Casamigos, a nine-furlong test for sophomores who have not won a graded stakes, at the Spa.

The Constitution dark bay, originally a $500,000 purchase at the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, was claimed for $50,000 out of a fifth-out graduation in February at Aqueduct Racetrack. In two starts for Rodriguez, both at the Big A, Gulfy won a one-turn mile starter optional claimer by a head in March ahead of a fourth in the nine-furlong Grade 3 Peter Pan last out on May 9.

"He's a very nice looking horse," Rodriguez said. "We claimed him, and I think it was a three-way shake. Sometimes you win good claims, sometimes you don't. If everything goes beautifully and the horse is training good, and everything is moving good, we will be ready."

Kendrick Carmouche rides from post 2 in the six-horse field, headlined by Kentucky Derby graduate Chief Wallabee for Hall of Famer Bill Mott and Grade 1-placed Blackout Time for conditioner Ken McPeek.

Nitrogen Running Drills For Whitney Stakes

July 21 - Multiple Grade 1-winning filly Nitrogen (D.J. Stables) turned in another sharp breeze over the Saratoga Race Course main track on Sunday, posting a bullet half-mile in 47.60 seconds as she prepares to take on male rivals in the Grade 1, $1 million Whitney on August 8 here.

Trained by dual Hall of Famer Mark Casse, the 4-year-old Medaglia d'Oro bay went solo under exercise rider Edwin Soto shortly after the conclusion of the 6:30 renovation break on the breezy morning, and skipped over the moist dirt that had been back-raked after significant rainfall on Saturday.

"We weren't going to breeze her, and then the track looked so good when they harrowed it that I said, 'let's breeze her,'" Casse said. "I had everybody scrambling. I liked that it was cool this morning, so I said, 'let's do it.' She went great. I wanted her to do a little something and get a little blow into her and didn't really accomplish much of that - she did it very easy."

Nitrogen, the reigning Champion 3-Year-Old Filly, won an off-the-turf edition of the Grade 3 Wonder Again and the 10-furlong Grade 1 Alabama presented by Keeneland Sales here last year. She faced elders and landed second in the Grade 1 Spinster at Keeneland and followed with the same result in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Distaff at Del Mar to cap her campaign. She enters the Whitney off a 12 3/4-length trouncing of the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps presented by Ford on June 5 here that garnered a 113 Beyer Speed Figure.

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What is the Whitney Stakes?

The Whitney is named after the family that for generations has had so much to do with racing at Saratoga. The Whitney family's involvement with thoroughbreds began when William Collins Whitney, co-founder of The Jockey Club, began campaigning racehorses in 1898, bearing the famed Eton blue-and-brown silks.

Whitney Day is a staple of summer racing at Saratoga: The $1 million Whitney attracts top older horses and has been won by many of thoroughbred racing's biggest stars. The 2026 Whitney Day card also features three additional Grade 1 races: The Test Stakes, Saratoga Derby Invitational, and the Fourstardave.

Each year on Whitney Day, Saratoga is bathed in pink in honor of Marylou Whitney, one of racing's finest ambassadors. Enter the Best in Pink Fashion Contest for your chance to win exciting prizes!

Whitney Stakes History and Traditions

Named after the family of racing royalty that for generations has had so much to do with racing at Saratoga, the Whitney was first run in 1928. The Whitney family's involvement with thoroughbreds began when William Collins Whitney, co-founder of The Jockey Club, began campaigning racehorses in 1898, bearing the famed Eton blue-and-brown silks. His legacy was carried on by his son, Harry Payne Whitney, and grandson, Cornelius "Sonny" Vanderbilt Whitney.

Whitney-owned horses have won every major race in the United States, including multiple wins at the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes.