Bob Baffert plans to send out a couple of heavyweights on Saturday, top-rated National Treasure in the $1 million Whitney Stakes (G1) and highly-acclaimed Adare Manor in the $400,000 Clement L. Hirsch (G1) at Del Mar.
National Treasure, the 2023 Preakness (G1) winner, is 2-for-3 as a 4-year-old, with victories in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) at Gulfstream Park in January, and a 6 ¼-length romp in the Metropolitan Handicap (G1) at Saratoga on June 8.
Top Contenders Vie for Breeders’ Cup Berths in Major Stakes
The Quality Road colt, the 9-5 morning-line favorite, will be ridden from post 3 by Flavien Prat. The front-running National Treasure has earned more than $5.3 million after being purchased as a yearling for $500,000.
“It’s a very prestigious race — just like the Met Mile is, that’s why we’re in the business of competing in big races like that,” Baffert said. “It means a lot for the owners, and everyone involved. Any time you can win those big races on the East Coast it’s a big deal.”
The race comes a day after Baffert’s 2018 Triple Crown champion Justify is inducted into the National Museum and Racing Hall of Fame at Saratoga.
A field of 12 was entered, with First Mission the second choice at 9-2, and Bright Future the third choice at 5-1. Bright Mission is one of three entered by trainer Todd Pletcher. The others are Crupi (15-1) and Charge It (30-1).
Later in the day at Del Mar, Baffert’s 5-year-old Adare Manor is scheduled to run in the Clement L. Hirsch, seeking a third straight win and a repeat of her victory in last year’s edition of the 1 1/16-mile race for fillies and mares 3 and up.
The Uncle Mo mare won the Apple Blossom (G1) by 5 ½ lengths at Oaklawn Park in April, and the Santa Margarita (G2) by 4 ¼ lengths at Santa Anita in May.
Both races are part of the Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In’’ challenge series; the Whitney victor receives an all-fees paid berth in the Breeder’s Cup Classic (G1), the Hirsch winner gets a fees-paid pass to the Breeder’s Cup Distaff (G1). The Breeders’ Cup is at Del Mar on Nov. 1-2.
$400,000 Clement L. Hirsch
Adare Manor, with a career record of 17-9-5-0 and earnings of $1.8 million, could face 2023 Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Pretty Mischievous as well as local hopefuls Nothing Like You (Santa Anita Oaks winner), Desert Dawn and Sugar Fish. Also nominated is Scylla, winner of the Fleur de Lis Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs on June 29.
Whitney undercard offers two Grade 1s and a Grade 2
The Whitney undercard features a pair of Grade 1s, the $500,000 Test Stakes for 3-year-old fillies going 7 furlongs and the $600,000 Saratoga Derby Invitational on turf for 3-year-olds going 1 3/16 miles. In addition, there’s the Grade 2 Troy on turf for 4-year-olds and up going 5 ½ furlongs.
Friday’s Spa features: Saratoga Oaks, National Museum and Racing Hall of Fame
$400,000 Saratoga Oaks
The Saratoga Oaks at 1 3/16 miles on turf features Charlie Appleby-trained Cinderella’s Dream (Grade 1 Belmont Oaks winner) and Aiden O’Brien’s Greenfinch (local stakes winner in Killarney on July 17) in a field of seven 3-year-old fillies.
Also entered are a pair of fillies trained by Rick Dutrow, Jr., Kathynmarissa and Macanga, and Belmont Oaks runner-up Segesta, trained by Chad Brown.
National Museum and Racing Hall of Fame
Manila Stakes (G3) winner Neat tops a field of eight 3-year-olds entered in the $500,000 National Museum and Racing Hall of Fame at a mile on turf.
Junior Alvarado has the call aboard Neat for trainer Rob Atras. Also entered are Army Officer for trainer Brad Cox and Zverev for Cherie DeVaux.
Saturday’s Whitney undercard stakes:
$500,000 Test Stakes (G1)
Ways and Means, trained by Chad Brown, looks for her first graded stakes win in this 7-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds.
The 7-5 favorite comes into the race off an 8 ¼-length win in a 1-mile allowance at Saratoga on June 6.
“She’s doing well. We’ve spaced her races out purposefully for this race,” Brown said of the filly who won her career debut by 12 ¾ lengths at the Spa in August going 6 furlongs. “She’s in a good rhythm working. Some speed in there would help her.”
Also entered in the field of six are Emery (5-2), Denim and Pearls (7-2), Belle’s Blue Bell (20-1), My Mane Squeeze (5-1), and Brightwork (6-1), who defeated Ways and Means in last year’s Spinaway (G1) at the Spa.
$600,000 Saratoga Derby Invitational
A pair of Euro-breds, Diego Velazquez (2-1) and Legend of Time (7-2) top what looks like a well-matched field of eight for the 1 3/16-mile turf test for 3-year-olds.
The winner receives an automatic berth to the $3.25 million Cox Plate in Australia on Oct. 26.
Ireland-bred Diego Velazquez, trained by Aidan O’Brien, comes into the race off a win in the Meld Stakes (G3) at Leopardstown on July 18. He leaves from post 3 under Ryan Moore.
Legend of Time, third as the 3-2 favorite in the Belmont Derby, leaves from post 4 under William Buick for trainer Charlie Appleby. He’s’ won of eight career starts.
Also, in the field is Deterministic (6-1), winner of the Gotham Stakes (G3) on dirt, races on turf for a second time and leaves from post 5 under Joel Rosario. He ran second in the Manila Stakes in his first turf race. Cugino is 3-1 for trainer Shug McGaughey.
$300,000 Troy Stakes
Cogburn, trained by Steve Asmussen, is the overwhelming 4-5 favorite in a field of 11 in this 5 ½-furlong sprint. The 5-year-old is 2-for-2 in 2024 with victories in the Twin Spires Turf Sprint (G3) at Churchill Downs on May 4 and the Jaipur Stakes (G1) at Saratoga on June 8.
Cogburn is looking for a second straight victory in the Troy, taking last year’s edition by three-quarters of a length over Nobals.
Among the challengers are Mischief Magic (6-1), trained by Appleby, and Grooms All Bizness at 12-1.
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.
