Off to a great start at Saratoga, Midlantic bred runners continue to inhabit top stakes races at the Spa, this time in two graded races on one of the biggest days of the meet. Saturday’s Whitney Day features five stakes contests, four of which are graded including the 97th Grade I Whitney in the eleventh. A win and your in race for the Breeders’ Cup Classic, the Whitney has become a top prep for the fall, as two of its last three winners in White Abarrio and Knicks Go went on to win the Classic. This year’s version starts with a well-stocked field of twelve entries, headlined by Bob Baffert’s National Treasure who begins as the 9/5 morning line favorite. In a larger field than usual, there is plenty of opportunity for an upset, as these older horses compete going nine furlongs for a chance at a bigger prize come November.

Breaking from the inside post in the Whitney is Maryland bred Post Time, a four year old colt by Frosted – Vielsalm, by Fairbanks. Post Time begins at the long odds of 20/1 for trainer Brittany Russell, but looks to follow in his sire’s footsteps as a Whitney champion in his four year old season. Frosted, however, entered the Whitney eight years ago as the odds on favorite in a field half this size, able to win comfortably in an impressive wire to wire win. Post Time likely won’t have it as easy this time around, never venturing past eight furlongs or running against a field this size.

Even if this appears to be an uphill battle, this talented colt has never finished out of the money in eleven tries and has already won three times off the bench. Post Time most recently finished second in the Met Mile on Belmont weekend at Saratoga in early June, unable to catch the aggressive National Treasure in the late stages. Over a track that was very speed biased, Post Time was at a disadvantage closing from a distant fifth, and hopefully will have better aim at National Treasure here. Returning jockey Sheldon Russell should keep Post Time running with his normal back of the pack style, and with his consistent forward moves in every race, the added furlong here shouldn’t be a problem. Owned by Hillwood Stable LLC, this grey colt has a great opportunity here to pick up a signature grade I win or simply to grab a piece of the prize against some of the best older horses in the country. Post Time was bred by Dr. & Mrs. Thomas Bowman, Dr. Brooke Bowman & Milton P. Higgins III, and sold for $85,000 as a yearling in 2021.

Preceding the Whitney is the Grade II Troy Stakes, a five and a half furlong turf sprint for four year olds and upward. In another loaded field of eleven entries, Pennsylvania bred Witty will start as a lukewarm 12/1 option on the morning line. Much like Post Time, this Midlantic bred may simply be in too loaded a field, but has displayed the talent to be a real threat to reach the winner’s circle. By Great Notion – Zeezee Zoomzoom, by Congrats, this late finisher has three wins and three places in six tries at this distance, including a win at Laurel Park in the King T. Leatherbury in April.

Closing from nine lengths back at the start to win that try, Witty will likely be aiming at the favorite Cogburn in this field, who went gate to wire in the Grade I Jaipur last time out over this course. Cogburn set a North American track record for five and a half on the turf in the Jaipur, clocking in at a sizzling fifty-nine and four fifths. The track may not be quite as quick as it was in June, but the speed of the Asmussen trained Cogburn will be tough to catch for anyone in this field, let alone Witty. Still, trainer, breeder, and co-owner Elizabeth M. Merryman has Witty primed for a top effort in the Troy, as he aims to pick up his first graded win. Witty is also owned by Qatar Racing and Marc Detampel and will be ridden by Tyler Gaffalione who guides him out of the ten post.

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