National Treasure 9-5 favorite in strong 12-horse for Whitney
On the day after his induction in racing’s Hall of Fame, Joel Rosario has a chance to pull off a huge upset in the $1 million Whitney Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course.
Joel Rosario
The 39-year-old jockey from the Dominican Republic had three mounts at the Spa on Friday and will be aboard 15-1 longshot Disarm in the Whitney – one of his eight mounts on Saturday.
Disarm needs to ‘pick it up’ in Whitney
Disarm, trained by Hall of Fame trainer, comes into the 1 1/8-mile Whitney off a disappointing sixth in the Stephen Foster Stakes (G1) at Churchill Downs on June 29. However, the son of Gun Runner (also a Hall of Fame inductee Friday), has fared well at Saratoga with a maiden win in 2022, a fourth in the 2023 Jim Dandy (G2) followed by a second in the Travers (G1).
“He needs to pick it up. He needs to go faster,” Asmussen said. “It is an extremely competitive field. There appears to be plenty of pace in there.”
Whitney Stakes is “Win and You’re In’’ for Breeders’ Cup Classic
National Treasure tops a field of 12 as the 9-5 favorite for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, who is set to be at Saratoga this weekend as his 2018 Triple Crown champion Justify also is inducted in the hall.
Challengers include First Mission, the 9-2 second choice, Bright Future at 5-1, and Arthur’s Ride at 8-1.
The winner earns an all-fees paid berth into the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) at Del Mar in November.
Baffert on National Treasure: ‘I think he’s getting better’
National Treasure, the 2023 Preakness (G1) winner, comes into the Whitney off a dominating 6 ¼-length victory in the Metropolitan Mile (G1) at the Spa on June 8. He will be ridden by Flavien Prat out of post 3.
National Treasure
“He’s matured and he’s an older horse now,” Baffert, who won back-to-back Whitneys in 2019-20 with McKinzie and Improbable, said. “I think he’s just getting better and I’m pretty happy with him right now.”
National Treasure and Arthur’s Ride, who delivered powerful 12 ¾-length win in a 1 ¼-mile optional claimer on June 7, are expected to get out of the gate quickly and hold off challengers.
Disarm has won going wire-to-wire, but races primarily in mid-pack with a closing kick. While a winner in 3 of 11 starts he’s finished second three times and third twice with earnings of over $1 million.
Rosario has quite a resume
Rosario has more than 3,600 career wins, including the 2013 Kentucky Derby aboard Orb. He’s also won the Whitney, among the most prestigious races for older horses, two times: with Frosted in 2016 and Knicks Go in 2021.
Pletcher has three in Whitney: Crupi, Bright Future, Charge It
First Mission, a closer trained by Brad Cox, won the Alysheba Stakes (G2) and the Essex Handicap (G3), and comes into the Whitney off a fourth in the Stephen Foster. If t
Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher sends out three: 5-1 Bright Future, 15-1 Crupi, and 30-1 Charge It. Pletcher is seeking his fifth Whitney victory.
Post time for the Whitney is 5:42 p.m. ET
For those who bet on horse racing, the Whitney victor over the past 10 years has been among the top 3 betting choices eight times. The others: What Abarrio at 10-1 in 2023, and Moreno at 10-1 in 2014.
The picks: 1 National Treasure 2 Disarm 3 Bright Future
The field for the $1 million Whitney Stakes (G1), from the rail out, with jockey, trainer, odds:
1 Post Time (Sheldon Russell, Brittany Russell), 20-1
2 Disarm (Joel Rosario, Steve Asmussen), 15-1
3 National Treasure (Flavien Prat, Bob Baffert), 9-5
4 Warrior Johny (Tyler Gaffalione, Philip Bauer), 20-1
5 First Mission (Florent Geroux, Brad Cox), 9-2
6 Il Miracolo (Manny Franco, Antonio Sano), 20-1
7 Crupi (Irad Ortiz, Jr., Todd Pletcher), 15-1
8 Tumbarumba (Luis Saez, Brian Lynch), 20-1
9 Bright Future (Javier Castellano, Todd Pletcher), 5-1
10 Skippylongstocking (Jose Ortiz, Saffie Jospeh, Jr.), 8-1
11 Arthur’s Ride (Junior Alvarado, Bill Mott), 8-1
12 Charge It (John Velazquez, Todd Pletcher), 30-1