84th running of the Whitney Invitational Handicap at SAR today

Race of the day nationally is the time honored Whitney Hcp (limit 114 lb) at the Spa, for 3up, over1&1/8mi on the main (dirt) track. One of the deepest and most contentious runnings of the Grade 1, $750,000 event drew a field of 11 for its 84th renewal, headed by Suburban Handicap winner Flat Out and Grade 1 winners Giant Oak and Tizway. #1Flat Out is the mild 4-1 favorite in the ML. Grade 1 Donn Handicap winner #4Giant Oak was the second choice at 5-1, closely followed by Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap winner #5Tizway (6-1) and multiple graded stakes winners #10Apart (6-1), #6Mission Impazible (6-1), and #11Duke of Mischief (8-1). Blame 4yo (tr. A.Stall; G Gomez up) won last year, carr 121 lb fr barr x. Easy Goer (1989) was last 3yo to win. IHS 1.0 selection is 5-2-7 (tizway 6yo, 118 lb, friend or foe, rail trip) with 6 and 10 for exotics. RESULT: 5-1-4-2. Tizway won @5/1


HISTORY: The WHITNEY Handicap is named for the family which had so much to do with American racing in general, and Saratoga in particular. A handicap for three year olds and up, The WHITNEY is not very old in comparison to some of the other stakes at Saratoga. It did not start until l928, a year in which The Travers was sixty four years old and The Alabama fifty six, but throughout its history it has compiled an impressive list of winners, including several Eclipse Award champions. War Admiral, Challedon, Counterpoint, Tom Fool, Kelso, and Dr. Fager have been the national champions of all divisions; Discovery, Stymie, Dedicate, Devil Diver, Slew o' Gold, and Victory Gallop were all older champions, and Key To The Mint was a three year old champion. The WHITNEY was run at Belmont Park in l943, l944, l945, and l96l. Run at Weight for Age prior to l954. For 4 year olds and up from l957 through l969. Run at a mile and a quarter prior to l955. Our Hope finished first but was disqualified
in l96l. Closed to geldings prior to 1971.

two other Gr1 events today are the Test for 3f at Sar (a lead up event for the 500K Alabama to be run in 2 weeks time) and the Clement L Hirsch at Del Mar

and souths humbled parra 56-6, led 34-0 at half time. merritt scored 5 tries.