| # | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | M/L |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magnitude | J L Ortiz | S M Asmussen | 9/5 |
| 2 | Nitrogen | J R Velazquez | M E Casse | 4/1 |
| 3 | Antiquarian | M Franco | T A Pletcher | 10/1 |
| 4 | Forged Steel | M J Husbands | S A Joseph, Jr. | 20/1 |
| 5 | White Abarrio | I Ortiz, Jr. | S A Joseph, Jr. | 8/1 |
| 6 | Sovereignty | J Alvarado | W I Mott | 3/1 |
| 7 | Tiztastic | T Gaffalione | S M Asmussen | 30/1 |
| 8 | Baeza | F Prat | W I Mott | 7/2 |
Last Updated on 08/03/2026
The Whitney Stakes is a Grade I Thoroughbred race held annually at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. Contested at 1⅛ miles on the dirt for horses aged four and older, it is one of the most prestigious dirt races in American racing history and a Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win, and You're In" qualifier, with the winner receiving an automatic, fees-paid starting position in the Breeders' Cup Classic. Inaugurated in 1928 and named for the Whitney family — one of the most storied dynasties in American Thoroughbred racing — the race has been won by some of the greatest horses in history: War Admiral (1938), Tom Fool (1953), Kelso (1961, 1963, 1965), Dr. Fager (1968), Alydar (1978), Easy Goer (1989), Invasor (2006), Rachel Alexandra (2009), Havre de Grace (2011), and Flightline (2022). The race famously produced one of the most shocking upsets in American racing history when Secretariat — the Triple Crown winner running against older horses for the first time — was defeated by 100-1 shot Onion in 1973. In 2015, the Whitney tied with the Kentucky Derby as the top Grade I race in the United States outside of the Breeders' Cup, per the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities rankings. The Whitney Handicap became the Whitney Stakes in 2014. Pat Day and Jerry Bailey share the jockey record with five wins each. John M. Gaver Sr. holds the trainer record with five wins.
The 2026 Whitney Stakes is scheduled for Saturday, August 8 at Saratoga Race Course on the same card as the Test Stakes, Saratoga Derby Invitational, and Fourstardave Stakes — one of the most celebrated days of racing in the American summer. Contested at 1⅛ miles on the dirt with a purse of $1,000,000, the race draws the top older dirt horses in the country targeting the Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland in October.
The Whitney Stakes has produced a succession of champions and Breeders' Cup Classic winners in recent years. Sierra Leone gave trainer Chad Brown his first Whitney victory in 2025 in 1:48.92 under Flavien Prat, the reigning Breeders' Cup Classic champion closing from last to score in one of the most anticipated older dirt horse showdowns in recent memory. Arthur's Ride gave trainer Bill Mott his first Whitney win in 2024 under Junior Alvarado, the lightly raced son of Tapit producing a stunning upset at generous odds for Glassman Racing. White Abarrio gave trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. and jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. a 2023 victory before going on to win the Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita. Life Is Good gave trainer Todd Pletcher a 2022 Whitney win, the powerful son of Into Mischief completing the Whitney-Breeders' Cup Classic double — a feat achieved by only a handful of horses in history. Knicks Go gave trainer Brad Cox and jockey Joel Rosario the 2021 Whitney before going on to win the Breeders' Cup Classic and be voted American Horse of the Year.
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Sierra Leone | Flavien Prat | 1:48.92 |
| 2024 | Arthur's Ride | Junior Alvarado | 1:48.54 |
| 2023 | White Abarrio | Irad Ortiz Jr. | 1:48.45 |
| 2022 | Life Is Good | Irad Ortiz Jr. | 1:48.47 |
| 2021 | Knicks Go | Joel Rosario | 1:47.70 |
The Whitney Stakes is one of the most historic and prestigious races in American Thoroughbred racing — a century-old tradition that defines the summer championship scene at Saratoga each August.
