McKinzie Tops Star Field in Saratoga's Whitney Stakes

If the Runhappy Metropolitan Handicap (G1) still rates as "The Race of the Year," then the 92nd running of the $1 million Whitney Stakes (G1) looms as a nice option for completing the exacta.

The Aug. 3, 1 1/8-mile test on "Marylou Whitney Day" at Saratoga Race Course attracted a top-quality field of eight at the July 30 post position draw, including McKinzie and Thunder Snow, who ran second and third, respectively, in the June 8 one-turn Met Mile.

"There are a lot of Breeders' Cup Classic horses in there," said Bob Baffert, who trains McKinzie, the 7-5 morning-line favorite for Karl Watson, Michael Pegram, and Paul Weitman. "They are nice horses. It's a real grade 1."

It's no coincidence that the field has a Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) feel to it as the Whitney is part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge series and the "Win and You're In" conditions will assure the winner of a free spot in the richest race of the two days at the World Championships.

McKinzie, who drew post 6 with jockey Mike Smith, was 12th in last year's Breeders' Cup Classic at Churchill Downs but has improved dramatically as a 4-year-old in Baffert's eyes, especially when you consider McKinzie endured considerable traffic problems in the stretch when he fell three-quarters-of-a-length shy of catching the victorious Mitole in the Met Mile at Belmont Park.

"He's a horse that is getting better with age. He couldn't be doing better right now," Baffert said. "He looks great. His color looks good. He's working well. Now he has to get the trip. His Met Mile was unbelievable with all the trouble he got in and then came running late. We're looking forward to it. I'm excited to see him run."

McKinzie, who was purchased for $170,000 from the Lane's End consignment at the 2016 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, has earned $1,703,560 through six wins in 11 career starts. The son of Street Sense  was bred by Summer Wind Farm.

Baffert will be chasing his first victory in the Whitney on a day when the New York Racing Association and the City of Saratoga Springs, N.Y., will pay tribute to the beloved Queen of Saratoga, Marylou Whitney, who passed away July 19 at the age of 93.

Godolphin's homebred Thunder Snow finished a neck behind McKinzie in the Met Mile and brings an enviable resume into the two-turn Whitney. Two starts ago, he won the Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1), run at about 10 furlongs, for a second straight year. The son of Helmet has won eight of 24 starts with astronomical earnings of $16,511,476.

"He had a strong seven-furlong workout the other morning (in 1:27.31 July 28) which I'm sure a lot of folks saw," said Jimmy Bell, president of Godolphin America. "He's full of energy. He's carrying great weight. He's not short on sky miles and he's a great traveler and very, very versatile, as you've seen from the Met Mile and other races around the world.

"I think the two turns will be helpful and I think what you saw was that he was able to hang on in a very contentious field in the Met Mile. A mile and a quarter is right up his alley, but I think he'll be very competitive going a mile and an eighth."

Priced as the 3-1 co-second choice, Thunder Snow will break from post 4 under regular rider Christophe Soumillon.

Centennial Farms' Preservationist was also tabbed at 3-1 off an impressive stakes debut at the advanced age of 6 when he registered a 4 ½-length victory over Catholic Boy in the 1 1/4-mile Suburban Stakes (G2) July 6 at Belmont Park.

The Suburban was the son of Arch's eighth career start and first time racing beyond 1 1/16 miles, illustrating the patience trainer Jimmy Jerkens needed to turn him into a graded stakes winner.

"Its been a joy to see the results of Jimmy's patience and care," said Donald V. Little Jr., president of Centennial Farms. "This horse is a very talented individual. He's had a few little hiccups to overcome. He's going to be tested Saturday but he has a lot of tacital speed and when he's right, he's a very tough horse."

Preservationist, who showed speed through the Suburban, drew post 8 with jockey Junior Alvarado.

Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable's Vino Rosso (6-1, post 5) comes into the Whitney after a cross-country trip that paid off with a three-quarter-length victory in the 1 1/4-mile Gold Cup at Santa Anita Stakes (G1) May 27.

"He's been training great. I think he's a much better 4-year-old than he was a 3-year-old," said trainer Todd Pletcher, a three-time winner of the Whitney. "He's much more consistent in the mornings in training and I thought his Gold Cup was a really big race. I think the nine-furlong distance is ideal for him if there's an honest pace. He's a very versatile horse."

The rest of the star-studded field includes WinStar Farm, China Horse Club, and Head of Plains Partners' Yoshida (10-1, post 7), Trin-Brook Stables' Forewarned (30-1, post 2), Loooch Racing Stables and Imaginary Stables' Imperative (30-1, post 1), and Michael Dubb, Bethlehem Stables and Gary Aisquith's Monongahela (12-1, post 3).

"I think the Whitney has positioned itself as the most prestigious older horse race and congratulations to NYRA for putting together what I believe is the strongest field for older horses this year," Bell said about a race with five millionaires in the field. "It's earned its prestige, and I think any horse trying to go to stud would like to have the Whitney on their resume."

Entries: Whitney S. (G1)

Saratoga Race Course, Saturday, August 03, 2019, Race 9

• Grade I
• 1 1/8m
• Dirt
• $1,000,000
• 3 yo's & up
• 5:46 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Imperative (KY)	Jose A. Bracho	118	Anthony T. Quartarolo	30/1
2	2Forewarned (OH)	John Bisono	118	Uriah St. Lewis	30/1
3	3Monongahela (PA)	Jose Lezcano	120	Jason Servis	12/1
4	4Thunder Snow (IRE)	Christophe Soumillon	124	Saeed bin Suroor	3/1
5	5Vino Rosso (KY)	John R. Velazquez	124	Todd A. Pletcher	6/1
6	6McKinzie (KY)	Mike E. Smith	124	Bob Baffert	7/5
7	7Yoshida (JPN)	Joel Rosario	124	William I. Mott	10/1
8	8Preservationist (KY)	Junior Alvarado	122	James A. Jerkens	3/1