The 2025 Whitney Stakes is set for Today, at Saratoga Race Course, featuring a field of ten Grade I stars racing 1⅛ miles on dirt for a $1 million purse. As a “Win and You’re In” prep for the Breeders’ Cup Classic in November, this prestigious Saratoga highlight draws top older horses with elite credentials.
The 2025 Whitney Stakes has drawn a field of ten elite contenders, including multiple Grade 1 winners and Breeders’ Cup champions. Among the challengers are Mindframe (5/2), a rising star with tactical versatility; Skippylongstocking (10‑1), a seasoned veteran; and longshots Mama’s Gold and Contrary Thinking at 50‑1, who may inject early speed into the race.
However, all eyes will be on the three marquee names: Fierceness, Sierra Leone, and White Abarrio, who headline this loaded edition of the Whitney.
Let’s take a look at the three Horses that are worth to bet on in the Whitney Stakes:
Fierceness comes into the Whitney as the morning‑line favorite and the most reliable horse in the field. Trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by John Velázquez, he has already captured the G2 Alysheba Stakes and finished second in the Metropolitan (G1) this season.
What makes Fierceness dangerous is his tactical versatility—he can sit just off the leaders and pounce in the stretch. With projected early speed from longshots like Mama’s Gold and Contrary Thinking, Fierceness should find a perfect stalking trip and get first run on the deep closers.
After proving himself as a Breeders’ Cup Juvenile champion and now a top older horse, he enters this race as the horse to beat.
Sierra Leone, last year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic winner, is back at Saratoga with a style that makes him a threat in any fast‑paced race. Trained by Chad Brown and ridden by Flavien Prat, this deep closer has been remarkably consistent, rarely finishing off the board in his career.
In the Stephen Foster (G1) in June, he unleashed his signature late kick to finish second, and a similar setup here could see him flying late down the stretch. If the pace is contested early, Sierra Leone is perfectly positioned to take advantage, especially at a track where he has trained extensively under Brown’s care.
White Abarrio returns to the Whitney Stakes seeking to defend his 2023 title and remind bettors why he’s one of the most accomplished older horses in training. With victories in the Pegasus World Cup and Breeders’ Cup Classic on his résumé, he thrives at 1 ⅛ miles and over the Saratoga dirt.
Ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., White Abarrio will likely track the leaders and make his move in the far turn, a style that has brought him repeated Grade 1 success. While his last start in the Met Mile was a fourth‑place finish, his return to two turns and his love for this distance make him a serious contender.
The 2025 Whitney Stakes will be held on Saturday, August 2, at Saratoga Race Course, with a scheduled post time of 5:41 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The race is part of Saratoga’s summer championship card and is a “Win and You’re In” qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
Fans can watch the action live on major racing broadcasts or via official streaming services. With a $1 million purse and elite horses on display, this year’s Whitney is set to be one of the most thrilling races of the season.
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
