The Whitney
 

Well....at least it is a pretty big field.

Whitney Handicap. - Grade: 1
Saratoga - July 28th, 2007 - Race 10
Estimated Local Post Time: 5:46 PM
Age Restriction: Three Year Old and Upward
Purse: $750,000
Distance: One And One Eighth Miles
Surface: Dirt

Post Horse Name Age Sex Weight Jockey Name

1 Flashy Bull (KY) 4 Colt 118 Alan Garcia
2 Papi Chullo (FL) 5 Horse 115 Eibar Coa
3 Brass Hat (KY) 6 Gelding 118 Willie Martinez
4 Fairbanks (KY) 4 Colt 116 Richard Migliore
5 Wanderin Boy (KY) 6 Horse 117 Rafael Bejarano
6 Sun King (KY) 5 Horse 117 Corey S. Nakatani
7 Magna Graduate (KY) 5 Horse 118 Garrett K. Gomez
8 Student Council (KY) 5 Horse 115 Robby Albarado
9 Diamond Stripes (FL) 4 Gelding 116 Edgar S. Prado
10 Dry Martini (FL) 4 Gelding 117 Cornelio H. Velasquez
11 Lawyer Ron (KY) 4 Colt 118 John R. Velazquez
12 Awesome Twist (KY) 5 Horse 114 Javier Castellano

personally I'd rather see a full field of horses that are competitive with one another than a 5 horse field with one standout....there are no superstars n this game anymore, so I find myself far more excited about good competition.

I think if Flashy Bull wins he will be the one to take over for Invasor in the older division as the standout.

Definitely helps getting better prices. No opinion on the race yet, but I would love to see Brass Hat and Willie take it!

No question about it. Last year's Woodward had a similar quality big field and was a dynamic, exciting race.

no doubt about that. I have ZERO betting on a five horse field with a 1:2 shot.

this fields appears VERY competitive at first glance

Robfla,
It looks to me that the winner of this one will be the division leader. This race has a lot to offer, and a lot at stake.
Early pick is Papi C, but there will be plenty of value in this one.

Anyone know what the ML odds are? What kind of price could I expect on Martini with the other ones signed on in here? He runs his ass off everytime, and would certainly seem close on his best, but this is going to be a huge test for him.

ML's will be available tomorrow, but I'd guess he'll be the 2nd or 3rd longest shot on the board at post time. Higher than 25-1 and lower than 40-1.

If he keeps on his new track I think Papi Chullo will be very competitive. He has had quite a turnaround with the new connections, I've always liked him.
What a nice field, should be very good race.
All the those stake races are nice, decent fields expect for the 9th, and even that one looks competitive.

Flashy Bull is always a great price even though he keeps winning..

That's around the ballpark I was thinking, too. He's facing a crew of big ones in here, but with how wide open this division is and how these races have been unfolding, I don't see it as too crazy to see him crashing the exotics.

Maybe it is crazy...who knows!

I don't think it's crazy. I'd much rather bet a hard trying grinder in this type of field than a Fairbanks all-or-nothing type. Can he win? doubtful... but 3rd, 4th is well within his ability.

I don't know about anyone else, but I think that this, on paper, is shaping up to be one of the best races of the year thus far. Alot of talent in this field...

i say closer to 15 to 1 than 40 to 1

his last race was no slouch..the 2nd place horse came back and won next out.. and he should pick up the pieces late

i say closer to 15 to 1 than 40 to 1

his last race was no slouch..his last 3 for that matter and he should pick up the pieces late

Now this is what a Grade I field should be (in size). I think it is a great betting race, completely wide open (only a couple of toss outs for me), and I feel that it has a diverse set of runners to make the race exciting.

Although there certainly aren't any great horses in here, it looks like the '78 JCGC if you compare it to the "G2" Washington Park Handicap at Arlington.
That race is a complete joke this year.

I don't think he'll be 40/1, but 15/1 would seem like a lot of money for him to take in a field with some runners who look like they'll take a lot of the money like Brass Hat, Magna Graduate, Wanderin Boy, Papi Chullo, Lawyer Ron, and Flashy Bull. I'd think he'd be around 15/1 if he were in a field of seven just with those mentioned.

How does this sound for an Illinois stallion:Grade II winner Lewis Michael?

He's going to walk......but that's for another thread.

It is certainly a nice field. I just hope the weather is O.K. The weather is supposed to be very tropical with the chance of heavy downpours. I hope (even though there isn't many Saturday) everything stays on the turf.

If i'm not mistaken, I believe Steve said on ATR today that the morning line on Brass Hat is 20-1. LOL!! I hope he stays at or above those odds on Saturday. What a ridiculous morning line for a horse with his credentials.

back up the trucks...

Prg. # PP Horse Jockey Trainer Wt. Claim $ Equip. Med. ML
1 1 Flashy Bull Garcia Alan McLaughlin Kiaran P 118 L 4-1
2 2 Papi Chullo Coa E M Contessa Gary C 115 L 9-2
3 3 Brass Hat Martinez W Bradley William 118 L 20-1
4 4 Fairbanks Migliore R Pletcher Todd A 116 L 20-1
5 5 Wanderin Boy Bejarano R Zito Nicholas P 117 L 20-1
6 6 Sun King Nakatani C S Zito Nicholas P 117 L 12-1
7 7 Magna Graduate Gomez G K Pletcher Todd A 118 L 7-2
8 8 Student Council Albarado R J Howard Neil J 115 L 30-1
9 9 Diamond Stripes Prado E S Dutrow, Jr. R E 116 L 5-1
10 10 Dry Martini Velasquez C Tagg Barclay 117 L 15-1
11 11 Lawyer Ron Velazquez J R Pletcher Todd A 118 L 6-1
12 12 Awesome Twist Castellano J J Kimmel John C 114 L 15-1

That is a truly absurd line. He will be 3rd choice, at worst.

look again

M/L odds on drf

Dry Martini is 15/1
Brass Hat = 20/1
Papi Chullo = 9/2
Flashy Bull = 4/1

Looks like some good value in here,also P4 looks good

Brass Hat had a 98 beyer last time. It was nothing special. He broke the track record on a souped up surface.

Off a year layoff and a 36 year old record to boot. I'm not saying he should be the favorite but he should, at the very least, be considered in the top 5 for this race. 20-1 makes is seem like there is an east coast bias...oh wait nvmd.

I think Sun King and Brass Hat should be reversed. But again, these are m/l odds. I am sure that Brass Hat will go off lower than 15-1.

If he goes off at 20-1 or higher, beers are on me at Breeder's Cup

Contessa worked Papi Chullo 3f this morning...seemed to me that he was getting out on the turn...37.43 was ninth best of fifteen....Tagg had a un-raced, un-named,2yo FuPeg filly that worked in company ok

weather forcast
 

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Lawyer Ron

Papi C goes back quite a ways with me, or rather, one of my partners that he slammed into the stall wall. Broke a bunch of his ribs, and made him take nine months off from riding.
I think Papi will do something, that mean sonofabitch.
I also like Flashy Bull for an ex (or box) and I'm figuring Diamond Stripes under in a tri. Nothing final at this point.
There should be some great betting value in this race.
GRL

The Whitney always make me think of the 1999 rendition of the race.
It was certainly one of the best races of the last 10 years with two multiple-G1 winners (Victory Gallop and Behrens) battling to the wire. Victory Gallop's move on the 2nd turn that day was one of those moves that you just never forget.
I'm glad that it is available on youtube now: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mf7UIKALfM8

He's run one race in 13 months and as said a 98 Beyer all out to beat the great Student Council, also in this race. I think he has a shot...and could move forward, but most in the race have done more than him this year so far. I think those odds are about right I think.

I agree. If we are going to judge them by the distant past, let's bring Alysheba back and make him 8/5. Based on what's known at this point, I'd say he should be over 15/1.

From what I've seen, you're lucky to get 20-1 in the BC Classic futures pools on Brass Hat. I got find a bookie if that line stays the same...