The Whitney Handicap isn't very old compared to other Saratoga stakes like the Travers. When Black Mania won the inaugural in 1928, Petee-Wrack captured the 64th Travers.
But the Whitney is historic in its own right, named for a family whose horses have won every major race in the United States. Harry Payne Whitney's Regret was the first filly to capture the Kentucky Derby in '15 and earned Horse of the Year honors.
Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney, most often referred to as C. V., inherited his father's stable in '30 and became the third generation of Whitneys heavily involved in horse racing.
On May 17 that year, five months before the elder Whitney passed away, his 2-year-old Equipoise won the Keene Memorial at Belmont Park. Called the Chocolate Soldier by fans because of his elegance and symmetry, Equipoise had his juvenile season cut short by a hoof crack and only ran three-times as a 3-year-old.
But at 4 and 5, C. V., called "Sonny" by close friends, cashed in when Equipoise captured a slew of stakes, including the Whitney in '32 with a purse of $5,400. Equipoise also was Horse of the Year for the first of two consecutive times.
One of Whitney's homes was the "Cady Hill" estate at Saratoga Springs, not far from the track where in '50 he founded the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, serving as its first president.
Two years later, he sent out another winner in the Whitney: Counterpoint, who took the Belmont in '51. In '57, C. V. was inducted into the Hall of Fame. On Aug. 6, eight new members join the elite group in the ceremony at Saratoga.
Fast forward more than two decades when C. V., in his 80s, saw his horses triumph in the Whitney twice: State Dinner in '80 and Silver Buck in '82.
Some national champions have won the Whitney, including War Admiral, '38; Tom Fool, '53; and Dr. Fager,'68. Two champs won this race three times: Discovery, '34-36, and Kelso, every other year beginning in '61.
Flashy Bull, going for his fifth consecutive victory, will likely be favored in Saturday's $750,000 Whitney for 3-year-olds and up.
The son of Holy Bull comes off victory in the $829,500 Stephen Foster Handicap at Churchill Downs on June 16. He covered the 1 1/8 miles, the same distance as the Whitney, in an excellent 1:48 1/5.
Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin's Flashy Bull will again face conditioner Todd Pletcher's Magna Graduate and horse trainer Richard Durow's Diamond Stripes, second and third, respectively, in that Grade 1 race at Churchill Downs.
Pletcher also entered Lawyer Ron, winner of the Grade 1 Oaklawn Handicap, and Fairbanks, runner-up to Political Force in Belmont's Suburban.
Other challengers in the 80th Whitney include Dry Martini, impressive winner of the Cornhusker Breeders' Cup Handicap at Prairie Meadows; Awesome Twist, runner-up in the Tom Fool; Papi Chullo, on a two-race winning streak; Wanderin Boy, victorious in Churchill's Alysheba; and Sun King, fourth in the Met Mile.
The 44th running of the $500,000 Jim Dandy on Sunday has attracted several 3-year-olds prepping for the $1 million Travers on Aug. 25 that's part of Saratoga's stakes program worth more than $10.3 million.
The odds-on favorite will be Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense, who skipped the Belmont after being edged by Curlin in the Preakness.
His main opposition isn't very strong because topnotch sophomores like Curlin and Hard Spun opted for the Haskell Invitational at Monmouth on Aug. 5.
Only one of the 19 he beat in The Derby will run: Nobiz Like Showbiz, 10th on May 5. Only one that raced well behind his runner-up finish in the Preakness is entered: C P West, fifth on May 19.
Other challengers are Tiz Wonderful, idle since his unbeaten juvenile season because of a tendon injury, and Sightseeing, winner of the Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont on May 20.
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