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Saratoga’s Grade I, million-dollar Whitney Stakes takes place Saturday afternoon, a mile-and-an-eighth event (4-year-olds and older) with a small-but-select field of a half-dozen.
Card as the 10th race (post time 5:42 PM ET), this is a race where the undisputed star is Cody’s Wish. Set at 1-2 (-200) on the morning line, the 5-year-old (Godolphin) homebred son of Curlin goes after a seventh win in a row. Junior Alvarado rides and Bill Mott trains as “Cody” makes his first appearance since a rout in Belmont’s Metropolitan Handicap. Having ended last season with a win in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, it’s a 9-of-13 ($2.3 million) career resume which Cody’s Wish brings into the Whitney. This is a “Win and You’re In” event ahead of the Nov. 4th Cup Classic.
All About “Cody”
You don’t usually see a betting favorite this large in a prestigious event such as the Whitney.
“Cody” will start outside of his five rivals, which isn’t an issue since he’s been an off-the-pace terror during his run. Cody’s Wish won his last two races by a combined eight lengths.
Whitney’s Other Contenders
There are three horses that appear to be the top threats to Cody’s Wish in the Whitney.
Zandon (Joel Rosario, post No. 1) is the early second choice at 9-2 (+450). The 4-year-old son of Upstart chased home Cody’s Wish in the Met, right after a non-threatening second to Repo Rocks in the Westchester, also at Belmont. Zandon is a career $1.7 million winner, hitting the board in 10-of-11 starts (2 wins, 5 seconds, 3 thirds). There’s a pretty big gap between Cody’s Wish and Zandon, who’s been consistent if not spectacular.
Charge It (John Velazquez, post No. 2) is at 5-1 (+500). White Abarrio (Irad Ortiz Jr., post No. 5) is priced at 6-1 (+600), with the pair a combined 9-of-23 and nearly $2 million.
Giant Game (Luis Saez, post No. 3) and Last Samurai (Flavien Prat, post No. 4) complete the six-pack, the latter making a 28th career start ($2.1 million in earnings).
Here are the always-moving lines to win, according to Whitney Stakes odds.
Cody’s Wish is the current 7-1 (+700) choice to win the season-ending Classic, as per Breeders’ Cup odds.
Intrigue on the Lawn
The Saturday undercard includes the $600,000 Saratoga Derby, a mile-and-three-sixteenth invitational event (3-year-olds and older) on the Mellon turf course. It’s an international field of nine, with Far Bridge (Jose Ortiz, post No. 5) made the 2-1 (+200) morning-line favorite.
The 3-year-old son of English Channel, trained by Todd Pletcher, rallied to win the Belmont Derby four weeks ago. What’s wrong with three wins and a pair of seconds in five career starts ($629,700)?
Program Trading (Flavien Prat, post No. 2) is one of five European interests in this race. The 3-year-old ridgling son of Lope de Vega is lightly-raced, but hasn’t been defeated (2-of-2). There were wins at Monmouth at Belmont, but this is his first try in a stakes. He’s on the early board at 7-2 (+350).
Webslinger (Javier Castellano, post No. 6), priced at 4-1 (+400), is less than $100,000 shy of millionaire status in what is going to be an 11-race career.
Mondego (Joel Rosario, post No. 1) and Lion of War (Oisin Murphy, post No. 8) are listed at 5-1 (+500) and 8-1 (+800), respectively, on the early line.
It’s the ninth race (post time 5:01 PM ET) on the program.
“Cody” to Prevail
Betting on big favorites in any horse race is a sometimes risky proposition, with no big reward if successful. Cody’s Wish is coming into the Whitney with plenty of momentum, and thus too hard to ignore at Saratoga. Take the short (-200) price with confidence,
The dozen-race card begins at 12:35 PM ET.
- Tony Caliente, Gambling911.com
