National Treasure, the top older male on American soil this season, will look to maintain that distinction when heading a surprisingly robust field in the $1 million Whitney (G1) at Saratoga on Saturday. The 1 1/8-mile Whitney is one of four graded stakes on the program and will offer an automatic bid to the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) as part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge series.
National Treasure, the 2023 Preakness (G1) winner, entered his four-year-old season with some momentum having missed by a nose to Horse of the Year Cody’s Wish in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt (G1). After trading decisions with Senor Buscador, winning by a neck in the Pegasus World Cup (G1) and then finishing fourth to that rival in the Saudi Cup (G1), National Treasure made a triumphant return home to win the one-mile Metropolitan H. (G1) at Saratoga by more than six lengths over Post Time.
“He’s matured and he’s an older horse now,” trainer Bob Baffert said. “I think he’s just getting better and I’m pretty happy with him right now.”
Trainer Todd Pletcher sends out three in search of a record-equaling fifth win in the Whitney, most notably Bright Future. Last year’s Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) winner made a belated season debut in the June 15 Salvator Mile (G3) and, despite the short distance and not getting an ideal trip, won in the end by 1 3/4 lengths.
“I think with a race under his belt, if he can make another move forward, it puts him right there. But he needs to run the best race of his career,” said Pletcher, who also will be represented by Suburban (G2) winners Crupi and Charge It.
Multiple Grade 2 winner Skippylongstocking exits a third-place finish in the Stephen Foster (G1), a race in which odds-on favorite First Mission and 2023 Travers (G1) runner-up Disarm both ran below expectations.
“I was disappointed in his run last out, very much so, but it’s the same as last year β it takes races to get him back to where you want to be,” said trainer Steve Asmussen of Disarm. “He’s a great big horse, carries a lot of weight and he’s trained continuously well.”
The field is rounded out by Grade 3 winner Il Miracolo and Tumbarumba, and by Arthur’s Ride and Warrior Johny, both of whom exit dazzling allowance wins over the Saratoga strip.
Perhaps the shortest-price favorite in Saratoga’s four graded stakes will be Cogburn, in his title defense of the $300,000 Troy (G2). The Steve Asmussen trainee has evolved into a turf sprinter of universal class over the past two seasons, making his first mark on the national stage a year ago when winning the Troy, then a Grade 3, over past and future Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) winners Caravel and Nobals.
Cogburn has been even more sensational this term, comfortably winning both the Twin Spires Turf Sprint (G2) and Jaipur (G1), the latter over the Troy course and 5 1/2-furlong distance in North American record time of :59.80.
“Last year when we moved him to the turf, it brought him to a new level,” Asmussen said.
Cogburn hasn’t scared too much of the competition away as he could face as many as 10 rivals, but none appear quite in his league at the moment. Logical threats to hit the frame include Grooms All Bizness, Witty, and Mischief Magic, the latter having futilely chased Cogburn in his last two outings.
Diego Velazquez adds a dose of foreign intrigue to what is otherwise an entirely domestic affair in the $600,000 Saratoga Derby (G1) for three-year-olds over 1 3/16 miles on the turf. The Coolmore representative exits a seven-length win in the Meld (G3) at Leopardstown, a much-needed confidence boost after finishing unplaced in the first two French classics and up the track in the King Edward VII (G2) at Royal Ascot.
Legend of Time, based in England and Dubai earlier in his career, is a veteran of three U.S. starts already. Victorious in the Pennine Ridge (G2) two back over White Palomino and Royal Majesty, he followed up with a third in the Belmont Derby (G1) after White Palomino, the eventual runner-up, set a dawdling pace.
Also lining up are Summer (G1) winner Carson’s Run, recently victorious in the Tale of the Cat S. at Monmouth Park; Cugino, dominating scorer of the Audubon S. at Churchill; and the Gotham (G3) winner Deterministic, second in the Manila (G3) last out in his turf debut.
Brightwork, last year’s Spinaway (G1) and Adirondack (G2) heroine, is among six three-year-old fillies in the $500,000 Test (G1) over seven furlongs. As good as she was at Saratoga last summer, though, she wasn’t nearly as effective around two turns last fall, finishing up the track in both the Alcibiades and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1).
“I think it was a little bit the distance and we did ask a lot of her,” trainer John Ortiz said. “I’m not concerned she wouldn’t be able to get the distance eventually, I think we squeezed the lemon just a little bit too much at the end of the year.”
Ways and Means, first or second in all four appearances over a fast track, is the probable favorite in the Test following a dominating allowance win. She was a rough-trip second to Outwork in the Spinaway and occupied the same slot in the Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) in her first two stakes attempts.
The field also includes other graded winners My Mane Squeeze, Denim and Pearls, and Emery.
