Departing wins the 2013 Super Derby. (Photo courtesy of Hodges Photography/Lou Hodges, Jr.)

By Tom Pedulla

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Everything in trainer Al Stall’s being told him Blame was sitting on a big year in 2010. The only question was “How big?”

The answer turned out to be “huge.” Blame culminated an outstanding season by handing the magnificent mare Zenyatta her only lifetime defeat in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Zenyatta was known for launching her bid from far back and passing opponents as if they were standing still. Blame would not stand for that. When the strapping mare ranged up to him, he dug in all the deeper, refusing to be passed.

Stall is not sure what to make of Departing and whether he will ever belong in the same conversation with Blame. “We knew he’d take us a long, long way throughout the year, and he ended up taking us all the way to the promised land,” he said. “But this horse might be able to. We’re not sure.”

Stall expects to have a much better idea of what he has – or does not have – after Departing opposes heavily-favored Palace Malice, hard-charging Will Take Charge and other quality starters as part of a field of nine for the $1.5-million Whitney on Saturday at Saratoga Race Course.

“This horse sure works awful well and this race is going to be the acid test of his life,” Stall said. “So we’ll find out what we have and what direction we’re going after it.”

Departing owns seven victories in 11 career starts for earnings of $1,491,340 but has yet to prove he can succeed in a Grade 1 race such as the Whitney. After taking third in the Lousiana Derby (G2) and winning the Illinois Derby (G3), he could do no better than sixth in the Preakness. He rebounded to sweep the West Virginia Derby (G2) and the Super Derby (G2) before taking an inexplicable step back when he faltered in fourth in the Oklahoma Derby (G3) last Sept. 29.

DEPARTING WINS 2013 ILLINOIS DERBY

Photo courtesy of Four Footed Fotos

Although the gelded son of War Front was not injured, an unconventional decision was made. He was sent to Claiborne, to lush pastures far from the rigors of the racetrack, and allowed to simply be a horse again.

“The race in Oklahoma clearly wasn’t his ‘A’ race and we just felt like he was telling us he needed a little breather,” Stall said.

Given the financial pressures of the game, such a move is far from common. Yet to Stall, it seemed obvious. “It just made sense because those 3-year-old races were over, just to get him away from the track and focus in on the second half of 2014,” he said.

Horses do not always return to form after so much time away. Yet there is a chance Departing is better than before. He won a one-mile allowance race at Churchill Downs on April 30 to launch his comeback. He ran a very encouraging third in the one and one-eighth-mile Stephen Foster (G1) on June 14 at Churchill Downs in his second start off the layoff, briefly holding the lead in the stretch before Moonshine Mullin and Will Take Charge, both of whom had been running regularly, claimed the top two positions.

The Whitney represents Departing’s third start off a layoff, an angle many handicappers believe typically produces a horse’s peak performance. A victory or a strong effort in the Whitney would put him on the road to the Classic. Something less would suggest that he belongs in more modest company.

“He’s trained every bit as good as he’s ever trained in his life up here in Saratoga,” Stall said hopefully.

$1.5-million Whitney
Saturday, Saratoga, Race 10, Post Time 5:46 PM E.T.
One and One Eighth Miles, for Three-Year-Olds and Up

Tune in to Fox Sports 1 on Aug. 10 for the Saratoga Special Stakes
and on Aug. 17 for the Sword Dancer Invitational Stakes.