Bram’s Take: Play the Maserati in Whitney

Fans at Saratoga Race Course on Saturday will be treated to an outstanding edition of the Whitney Invitational Stakes, which drew a powerful 10-horse field. Keep your eye out for the Maserati in the field. (Photos by Eclipse Sportswire)
I am quite confident in my opinions of the Whitney Invitational Stakes. I’m about to give you the best advice anyone can give you as you head to the window this weekend. Why am I the oracle of the Spa? Why should you pay very close attention to what I am about to tell you? Because of last week. Because in this very space, I predicted everything that happened in the two biggest races of the weekend. At Saratoga Race Course, I had Texas Red running down Frosted; and at Monmouth Park, I had the only play that made any financial sense, Keen Ice and his unfathomable odds paying off in the run to see who would be first to lose to American Pharoah. I’m on top of my game people, and that is why I know what I am saying is the absolute undeniable truth about the Whitney. Are you ready?
I have no idea who is going to win, and no one on Earth does either.
Have you ever come across a field of 10 horses where you could make a case for ALL of them? This might as well be a NASCAR race because whoever wins and whoever loses will look back at the most minute of issues. Was the trip bad? Did the shoe not fit perfectly? Did I make my move too soon? Not soon enough?
Throw a dart at a board. You have the same odds of getting this right as studying the Daily Racing Form.
Here’s the unreal field for the Whitney Stakes:
1. Honor Code — If he does what he did at Belmont two months ago, no one beats him. But what are the chances considering he’d never shown the propensity to do that in his past? That was the definition of a career race. American Pharoah, he is not. So if he’s got that kind of rocket fuel again, forget about it. Assuming he doesn’t, then he is just part of the pack of contenders.
2. Tonalist — He’s a beast but his bite isn’t quite what it used to be. Five of his last seven races, he’s been right there but not the one taking the cool picture. Honor Code likes to make massive sweeping moves. This guy likes to be close to the front — the perfect stalking position — except that in recent tries, he's not the one jumping on the zebra first.
3. Noble Bird — Keeps getting better and better and better and better. So much so  that his limited stakes experience didn’t get anyone to slap him with morning-line odds that would make him a value play. If he keeps getting better and better and better, then, of course, he can win. But I already said anyone can win, so what does that mean anyway? He’s a pure front-runner, and for that reason alone, I don’t like him to cross the finish line first.
NOBLE BIRD WINNING STEPHEN FOSTER

4. Liam’s Map — Based on his dominating results, clearly he deserves this shot to step into the ring with the big boys. But he might as well be fighting Mike Tyson AND Rhonda Rousey, and that just isn't fair. Now, he was totally fine after a six-month layoff, so I guess anything is possible.
5. Moreno — He’s won nearly $3-million in purse money and he’s 12-to-1! His last race was an unmitigated disaster, but that’s not the first time that’s happened. Maybe he is over the hill for this kind of run or maybe not. Are you seriously throwing him out of any exotic bet? Then you are an insane person. He won this race last summer as a mild longshot. Don’t think he can’t do it again.
MORENO WINNING 2014 WHITNEY

6. V. E. Day — He’s largely been a disappointment since winning the Travers Stakes last summer. I do find it somewhat amusing that his opening odds are half of what Coach Inge’s are, despite the fact that he ran second to Coach Inge in his last go. Like I said, no one knows anything! I have little belief he’ll be the one to pull off a surprise but come on - he’s not an easy toss here.
7. Lea — This is the Maserati of the field. Finely tuned, well oiled and his pickup is elite. Try the fuel in the Middle East, and maybe not so much. But in the good ole U. S. of A., he’s got the consistency you seek in a spot like this. So of all of them, I expect him to definitely be a factor. I believe the 9-to-2 number has more to do with the recent results being close but no cigar. But he is extremely dangerous here, and I like that he’s separated from Honor Code and Tonalist at the gate.
LEA: THE MASERATI IN THE WHITNEY FIELD

8. Coach Inge — 15-1? Please. But in this field, he isn’t the one you look at and say, yep, totally underrated. He’ll be up front short of a rough start, because that’s the way he likes it. What’s most impressive is he has shown a resolve. Even in long-distance races, he is practically impossible to shake. My best guess is he ends up somewhere on the board and makes the payout worthwhile.
9. Wicked Strong — Here’s where things get so enticing. This guy runs in the Kentucky Derby (really well) and Belmont Stakes a year ago and is 20-to-1. That is a pure testament to how good this field is. He is literally given no chance despite his track record saying slow down the assumptions. Now, you can argue his best race this year is on turf, so that is not making the case. And I’m not sure I like the first-time jockey aboard here either. But I’m not calling this some kind of massive upset if he’s there at the end, are you?
10. Normandy Invasion — Another Derby horse from 2014 with the longest odds on the board. Insanity. Clearly though, it appears he is a step below the rest, exemplified by his last two races being a massive favorite only to finish second in both. So, maybe I can’t make a case for all 10 of these horses winning, but he’s no lightweight. If he gets a nice trip, and he puts together his best run, maybe he’s some kind of factor.
I’m only going to make a selection here because I’m obliged to do so. And I’m a sucker for a fancy car, so give me the Maserati.
Trifecta wheel: Lea on top over Honor Code, Tonalist, Noble Bird, Moreno, Coach Inge and Wicked Strong. But if I were you, I’d ignore every word of that and use whatever superstition you have to come up with a better reason to make your pick. Good luck. You’ll need it.
$1,250,000 Whitney Invitational StakesSaturday, Saratoga Race Course, Race 9, 5:46 p.m. ET1 1/8 miles, dirt, 3-year-olds and olderWin and You're In for Breeders' Cup ClassicTV: NBC, 5-6 p.m. ET

PP

Horse

Jockey

Trainer

Owners

ML

1

Honor Code

Javier Castellano

Shug McGaughey

Lane’s End Racing and Dell Ridge Farm

3-1

2

Tonalist

John Velazquez

Christophe Clement

Robert S. Evans

4-1

3

Noble Bird

Shaun Bridgmohan

Mark Casse

John Oxley

5-1

4

Liam's Map

Mike Smith

Todd Pletcher

Teresa Viola Racing Stables

6-1

5

Moreno

Cornelio Velasquez

Eric Guillot

Southern Equine Stable

12-1

6

V. E. Day

Junior Alvarado

Jimmy Jerkens

Magalen O. Bryant

8-1

7

Lea

Joel Rosario

Bill Mott

Claiborne Farm and Adele B. Dilschneider

9-2

8

Coach Inge

Irad Ortiz Jr.

Todd Pletcher

Repole Stable

15-1

9

Wicked Strong

Luis Saez

Jimmy Jerkens

Centennial Farms

20-1

10

Normandy Invasion

Kerwin Clark

Larry Jones

Fox Hill Farms

30-1