The $1 million, Grade 1 Whitney Stakes Saturday at Saratoga Race Course is one of the most important races in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic division as well as one of the marquee summertime races in U.S. horse racing. The 1 1/8-mile dirt race is a “Win and You’re In” Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series qualifier for the Longines Classic, giving the race winner an automatic berth to the $7 million race Nov. 1 at Del Mar.

Winners of the Whitney often go on to careers worthy of consideration for the Racing Hall of Fame, and this prestige has endured ever since the race was first held in 1928. Past winners include stars such as Discovery (1934, 1935, 1936), War Admiral (1938), Gallorette (1948), Tom Fool (1953), Kelso (1961, 1963, 1965), Carry Back (1962), Dr. Fager (1968), Alydar (1978), Slew o’ Gold (1984), Lady’s Secret (1986), Personal Ensign (1988), Easy Goer (1989), Awesome Again (1998), Medaglia d’Oro (2003), Invasor (2006), Blame (2010), Honor Code (2015), Gun Runner (2017), Knicks Go (2021), and Life Is Good (2022).

The 98^th Whitney Stakes features a rematch between the 1-2 finishers of last year’s Longines Classic, Sierra Leone and Fierceness, and several other accomplished horses including 2023 Whitney and Longines Classic winner White Abarrio and 2024 Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes winner Highland Falls.

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The Whitney will be televised nationwide on FOX as part of a three-hour “FOX Saratoga Saturday” program with a scheduled post time of 5:41 p.m. ET. And America’s Best Racing will be on site at the Spa for a “Whitney Day LIVE!” show hosted by Dan Tordjman and Alexa Zepp and featuring many special guests. “Whitney Day LIVE!” has a start time of 4 p.m. ET and will stream on ABR’s Facebook, X, and YouTube channels.

Read on for information about each Whitney contender plus some gambling insights.

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1. Mindframe (5-2 morning-line odds)

Jockey: Jose Gomez

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Owners: Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable

Career record: 7 starts – 5 wins – 2 seconds – 0 thirds

Career earnings: $1,844,580

Top Equibase Speed Figure: 118

Pedigree: Constitution – Walk of Stars, by Street Sense

Age: 4

Color: Dark bay or brown

Running style: Stalker

Analysis: Recent Stephen Foster Stakes winner Mindframe has been entered in Saturday’s Whitney, but Hall of Fame trainer and four-time Whitney winner Todd Pletcher told reporters, including BloodHorse correspondent Bob Ehalt, that he did so only to run the colt in the event Fierceness, also co-owned by Mike Repole, had to be withdrawn in the week leading up to the race. All systems appear to be set on “go” for Fierceness (see below), so we’ll probably see this divisional standout run next in the Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes Aug. 31 at Saratoga, where he will probably be the morning-line favorite. If he ends up running in the Whitney, he’ll be one of the favorites as well based on his undefeated 2025 campaign through three starts, topped by an impressive win in the June 28 Stephen Foster in a fast time.

Bet Mindframe in the Whitney Stakes

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2. Skippylongstocking (10-1)

Jockey: Jose Ortiz

Trainer: Saffie Joseph Jr.

Owner: Daniel Alonso

Career record: 32 starts – 11 wins – 3 seconds – 7 thirds

Career earnings: $3,661,610

Top Equibase Speed Figure: 116

Pedigree: Exaggerator – Twinkling, by War Chant

Age: 6

Color: Bay

Running style: Press the pace/stalker

Analysis: One of the few true throwback horses currently running, Skippylongstocking evokes a cherished era in the sport where horses ran often and stayed in training for several years after debuting at 2 or 3. He’s made four starts so far at age 6 and has typically maintained strong form, winning twice and finishing third twice, all at the stakes level. Skippylongstocking enters the Whitney off of one of his best efforts, a three-quarter-length win in the Hollywood Gold Cup Stakes at Santa Anita Park May 26. That victory came against a field that’s less accomplished than the one he’ll face Saturday, and he’ll need to run even better than he did in California to have a shot at a Whitney upset. He’s hit the board in nine of his 15 career starts at this race’s 1 1/8-mile distance, however, which makes him very much worthy of consideration for exacta and trifecta tickets.

Bet Skippylongstocking in the Whitney Stakes

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3. Highland Falls (8-1)

Jockey: Luis Saez

Trainer: Brad Cox

Owner: Godolphin

Career record: 11 starts – 6 wins – 2 seconds – 1 third

Career earnings: $1,312,660

Top Equibase Speed Figure: 113

Pedigree: Curlin – Round Pond, by Awesome Again

Age: 5

Color: Chestnut

Running style: Stalker

Analysis: This Godolphin homebred returned for a 5-year-old campaign June 27 and easily won a one-mile allowance-optional claiming race at the Belmont at the Big A meet by 5 ½ lengths. Highland Falls had been away from racing for nearly eight months following a disappointing ninth-place finish in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic, won by Sierra Leone. One start before that, however, he put forth a career-best effort in the 1 ¼-mile Jockey Club Gold Cup, winning that prestigious late-summer race at Saratoga by four lengths and with a 113 Equibase Speed Figure. Highland Falls will need to cycle back to that form level to post the upset in the Whitney Stakes, and he should improve in his second start of the year. Look for jockey Luis Saez to position him close behind the early leaders, possibly running in tandem with Fierceness, and then move him forward on the far turn in hopes of separating from the field in early stretch. New To Horse Racing? Let Us Explain...

Speed figures: People who bet on horse racing use speed figures to give a numerical value to a horse’s performance in a race. The speed figure accounts for variables in a race such as the early pace (tempo), track surface, weather, and ground covered, for example. Assigning a speed figure to each horse aims to give an accurate measure of its performance that then can be compared with other horses competing in the same race.

Bet Highland Falls in the Whitney Stakes

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4. Mama’s Gold (50-1)

Jockey: Romero Maragh

Trainer: James Ferraro

Owner: Jonathan Hardoon

Career record: 23 starts – 6 wins – 4 seconds – 0 thirds

Career earnings: $446,161

Top Equibase Speed Figure: 117

Pedigree: Bolt d’Oro – In Spite of Mama, by Speightstown

Age: 5

Color: Bay

Running style: Pacesetter

Analysis: New York-bred Mama’s Gold moves up to the big leagues in Saturday’s Whitney Stakes, which will be his first graded stakes start in a four-year career. He’s been solid competing in allowance-optional claiming races and in the occasional stakes race against fellow state-breds, has a good 4-for-8 record in races held at a mile and an eighth, and has occasionally earned Equibase Speed Figures that are in line with some of his more accomplished Whitney foes. He enters off of a second-place finish in the 1 1/16-mile Commentator Stakes June 4 at Saratoga, a race restricted to New York-breds where he set the early pace but could not finish the job and lost by 1 ¼ lengths. Look for regular rider Romero Maragh to send Mama’s Gold to the lead and hook up with Contrary Thinking in a pace battle that should tire both longshots out after a mile or so.

Bet Mama’s Gold in the Whitney Stakes

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5. Sierra Leone (2-1)

Jockey: Flavien Prat

Trainer: Chad Brown

Owners: Peter Brant, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg, and Brook Smith

Career record: 11 starts – 4 wins – 4 seconds – 3 thirds

Career earnings: $6,256,200

Top Equibase Speed Figure: 117

Pedigree: Gun Runner – Heavenly Love, by Malibu Moon

Age: 4

Color: Dark bay or brown

Running style: Closer

Analysis: Last year’s Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic winner has yet to fulfill high expectations through two starts so far at age 4, finishing third in the New Orleans Classic Stakes Presented by Relyne GI by Hagyard back in March and then second in the Stephen Foster Stakes in June. He certainly gave a good effort both times, however, and could be ready to regain his best form in his third 2025 start. There’s no doubt that Sierra Leone is one of the most talented racehorses of the past two years; along with that, there’s no doubt that he’s a stone-cold closer who needs a fast pace to develop in order to set up his stretch kick. To help create that scenario, co-owner Peter Brant has purchased allowance-level runner Contrary Thinking and entered him in the Whitney, likely with instructions for jockey Dylan Davis to set swift early fractions (see below). Even if the pace turns out to be moderate, look for this ultra-consistent runner to be making up ground the stretch and in position to secure a top-three finish, where he’s ended up in all 11 of his races.

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Closer: Horses that are closers tend to race near the back of the field in races early on and save their energy for one big run in the final yards. They are therefore dependent on the pace (early tempo) of a race to be fast enough to hopefully tire out their opponents in front of them so they can sweep by and win.

Bet Sierra Leone in the Whitney Stakes

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6. Disarm (15-1)

Jockey: Joel Rosario

Trainer: Steve Asmussen

Owner: Winchell Thoroughbreds

Career record: 16 starts – 4 wins – 3 seconds – 3 thirds

Career earnings: $1,439,165

Top Equibase Speed Figure: 107

Pedigree: Gun Runner – Easy Tap, by Tapit

Age: 5

Color: Chestnut

Running style: Closer

Analysis: Disarm is a solid, professional, stakes-level racehorse whose best achievements place him a rung below the top Whitney Stakes contenders. He’s remained consistent two starts into his 5-year-old season, winning a 1 1/16-mile allowance-optional claiming race at Oaklawn Park in March and then finishing fourth in the 1 1/8-mile Oaklawn Handicap in April (Skippylongstocking was third). Last summer at Saratoga, he ran fourth in the Whitney Stakes and third in the Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes, the latter won by Highland Falls, while finishing 6 ¾ lengths behind the winner both times. That appears to be Disarm’s ceiling again this year, as he usually puts in a grinding rally in the stretch but is simply not fast enough to sweep by every horse in front of him and win. As such, he’s worthy of including in trifecta and/or superfecta bets at what should be high odds.

Bet Disarm in the Whitney Stakes

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7. White Abarrio (4-1)

Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.

Trainer: Saffie Joseph Jr.

Owners: C Two Racing Stable, Gary Barber, and La Milagrosa Stable

Career record: 22 starts – 10 wins – 2 seconds – 3 thirds

Career earnings: $7,031,920

Top Equibase Speed Figure: 122

Pedigree: Race Day – Catching Diamonds, by Into Mischief

Age: 6

Color: Gray or roan

Running style: Stalker

Analysis: While the rematch between 2024 Breeders’ Cup Classic foes Sierra Leone and Fierceness has garnered most of the headlines leading into Saturday’s Whitney Stakes, White Abarrio has more than enough back class to make him a viable win candidate – if he can regain his best form. The flashy gray horse reached that peak just about two years ago, when he posted a 6 ¼-length blowout in the 2023 Whitney Stakes at odds of 10.20-1 and subsequently won the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic that fall at Santa Anita Park. White Abarrio then started a 5-year-old campaign in 2024 with a no-show 10^th in the Saudi Cup, and since that international trip he's mixed very good efforts, including a 6 ¼-length score earlier this year in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes at Gulfstream Park, with subpar ones such as his most recent start, a fourth-place finish in the Hill ‘n’ Dale Metropolitan Handicap, aka the Met Mile, June 7 at Saratoga. White Abarrio should welcome stretching back out to two turns and 1 1/8 miles, and he’s been training well at Saratoga in recent weeks. If he brings his “A” game, look for White Abarrio to race in midpack for the first mile or so under regular rider Irad Ortiz Jr. and then sweep into contention on the far turn.

Bet White Abarrio in the Whitney Stakes

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8. Contrary Thinking (50-1)

Jockey: Dylan Davis

Trainer: Chad Brown

Owner: Peter Brant

Career record: 5 starts – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Career earnings: $102,540

Top Equibase Speed Figure: 95

Pedigree: Into Mischief – Valadorna, by Curlin

Age: 5

Color: Bay

Running style: Pacesetter

Analysis: This lightly-raced 5-year-old gelding was purchased by Peter Brant, co-owner of Sierra Leone, after he won a one-mile allowance-optional claiming race by 3 ¾ lengths June 29 at Belmont at the Big A. Contrary Thinking led from start to finish in that race, which followed sixth- and fourth-place efforts in his two earlier races this year held at sprint distances. He will make his stakes debut in the Whitney and is outclassed by every other opponent based on prior competition and speed figures. Although trainer Chad Brown told the NYRA press office that he believes Contrary Thinking can “get a piece of this race,” thinking that’s contrary to Brown’s suspects this gelding as being tasked with ensuring a fast early pace in order to benefit late-running stablemate Sierra Leone. The horse racing term for this is a “rabbit” (borrowed from the mechanical bunny used as a target in greyhound racing), and if Contrary Thinking is indeed given the carrot, he could be joined by fellow front-runner Mama’s Gold in a speed duel early on in the Whitney.

Bet Contrary Thinking in the Whitney Stakes

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9. Fierceness (9-5)

Jockey: John Velazquez

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Owners: Derrick Smith, Repole Stable, Susan Magnier, and Michael Tabor

Career record: 11 starts – 6 wins – 2 seconds – 1 third

Career earnings: $4,515,320

Top Equibase Speed Figure: 117

Pedigree: City of Light – Nonna Bella, by Stay Thirsty

Age: 4

Color: Bay

Running style: Press the pace/stalker

Analysis: Among a strong Whitney field, Fierceness arguably has shown the most brilliance in his career to date, with sensational wins in the 2024 Curlin Florida Derby Presented by Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms at Xalapa and DraftKings Travers Stakes and this year’s Alysheba Stakes Presented by Sentient Jet (in which he set a track record at Churchill Downs) on his résumé. He also ran valiantly in last fall’s Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic when second behind Sierra Leone. On occasion, however, Fierceness has failed to fire on the big stage, such as when he finished 15^th in the 2024 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve and to a lesser extent when he ended up second as the odds-on favorite in his lead-in race to the Whitney, the Hill ‘n’ Dale Metropolitan Handicap June 7 at Saratoga. The 4-year-old colt has been steadily working at Saratoga for this race, which his owners have targeted for months, and he should appreciate stretching out from a mile to a mile and an eighth (as mentioned above, Fierceness’ stablemate Mindframe will run in the Whitney only if he withdraws). His tactical running style is perfect for this edition of the Whitney, and should help regular jockey John Velazquez position him right behind projected pacesetters Contrary Thinking and Mama’s Gold and then burst past them on the far turn and attempt to open up on the rest of the field.

Bet Fierceness in the Whitney Stakes

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10. Post Time (12-1)

Jockey: Sheldon Russell

Trainer: Brittany Russell

Owner: Hillwood Stable

Career record: 18 starts – 11 wins – 3 seconds – 4 thirds

Career earnings: $1,363,600

Top Equibase Speed Figure: 115

Pedigree: Frosted – Vielsalm, by Fairbanks

Age: 5

Color: Gray or roan

Running style: Stalker

Analysis: This hardy Maryland-bred joins Sierra Leone (and Midframe if he is not withdrawn as expected) as the most consistent runners in the 2025 Whitney Stakes: through 18 career starts, Post Time has never finished worse than third. He’s traveled like a Fodor’s handbook as well, taking his form to tracks in Kentucky, California, and New York from his base at Laurel Park. Post Time is back for another try in the Whitney after finishing a rallying third at 25-1 odds in last year’s edition, which was won by Arthur’s Ride in gate-to-wire fashion. He enters off of a dominant 3 ½-length win at odds of 1-10 in the 1 1/8-mile Deputed Testamony Stakes June 28 at Laurel Park facing four overmatched horses. He’ll be squaring off against a far more formidable group Saturday, but Post Time is proven at this level and should be closing in the stretch along with Sierra Leone in a bid to fill out the trifecta at the very least. Toss him from those tickets at your peril.

New To Horse Racing? Let Us Explain...

A trifecta filler: We're suggesting that you might want to add the horse to your bet if you’re playing a trifecta (first three finishers), and using this horse in the third slot but not to win or finish second.

Bet Post Time in the Whitney Stakes

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