Live From Saratoga Race Course: Whitney Day Updates

Welcome to my Whitney day blog live from Saratoga Race Course for an especially strong edition of the $1 million Whitney Stakes (G1).

I'll provide updates on the 1 1/8-mile Whitney, today's other three grade 1 races, and the entire 14-race card while also pointing you to all of the coverage BH is providing today from senior correspondent Bob Ehalt, assistant news editor Sean Collins, and features editor Karen Johnson.

Weather

Overcast skies are greeting early arrivers today at the Spa. That has contributed to cooler temperatures than yesterday with the current temperature at 76 degrees with an expected high of 85 around 3-4 p.m.

There's only a slight chance of rain today, peaking at 35% around 5 p.m.

To start the day, the main track is fast and the turf courses are firm.

Race day

The Whitney Stakes will be contested as Race 12 on today's card with an expected post time of 6:33 p.m.

The $500,000 Test Stakes (Race 9, 4:36 p.m.) for 3-year-old fillies going seven furlongs begins a stretch of four straight grade 1 races. It will be followed by the $750,000 Fourstardave Stakes (Race 10, 5:14 p.m.) for 3-year-olds and older going a mile on the inner turf, the $750,000 Saratoga Derby Stakes (Race 11, 5:52) for 3-year-olds going 1 3/16 miles on the turf, and then the Whitney.

The 14-race card is scheduled to begin at 11:45 a.m. ET with a maiden special weight race for 2-year-olds. The day's final race is scheduled for 7:39 p.m., an allowance-optional claiming race on the inner turf.

The $1 Pick 6 begins with the Test, includes all four grade 1 races plus the day's final two races. Oddly, there is no Pick 5 that includes all four of the grade 1 stakes. The Pick 5 begins with the Fourstardave, as does the Grand Slam (a personal favorite wager).

Television

FOX Sports will be the home of today's races with the main FOX channel presenting the four grade 1 stakes from 5-7 p.m. FS2 will cover the other races on the card from 11:30 a.m.-5 p.m. and then after the FOX broadcast from 7 p.m.-8 p.m. for the day's final two races.

So watch on TV and keep check this live blog for news updates, my thoughts, a bit of handicapping, and pushes to all of our stories.

Today's complete racing on radio, television, and streaming schedule