Whitney, Travers Anchor Historic 148th Meet at Saratoga

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The historic 148th meet at Saratoga Race Course will again be highlighted by the Grade 1, $1.25 million Whitney and the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers, the centerpieces of two of the biggest days in North American racing.

The 40-day meet, which includes 69 stakes worth $18.725 million in purses, will run from Friday, July 22, through Labor Day, Monday, September 5. After opening weekend, racing will be conducted six days a week, Wednesdays through Mondays.

On Saturday, August 6, the prestigious 1 1/8-mile Whitney will pair with the Grade 1, $500,000 Test for 3-year-old fillies, with the Grade 3, $200,000 Fasig-Tipton Waya for turf fillies and mares going 1 1/2 miles rounding out the graded stakes offerings on the first “must-see” card of the meet. Also on August 6 are two additional turf stakes for fillies and mares: the $100,000 Fasig-Tipton Lure at 1 1/16 miles and the $100,000 Fasig-Tipton De La Rose at a mile.

Joining the 147th running of the Mid-Summer Derby for 3-year-olds on Saturday, August 27 will be five other Grade 1 stakes: the $1 million Longines Sword Dancer Invitational at 1 ½ miles on the turf, the $500,000 Ballerina for filly and mare sprinters, the $700,000 Priority One Jets Forego at seven furlongs, the $750,000 Ketel One King’s Bishop and the $750,000 Personal Ensign for fillies and mares going 1 1/8 miles. Rounding out the blockbuster card is the Grade 2, $400,000 Woodford Reserve Ballston Sa for turf fillies and mares.

The traditional local prep for the Travers, the Grade 2, $600,000 Jim Dandy, will be held on Saturday, July 30, joined by the Grade 1, $350,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap, the Grade 2, $200,000 Amsterdam and the Grade 2, $250,000 Bowling Green Handicap.

Travers Eve, Friday, August 26, will again feature the popular New York Breeders’ Showcase Day, highlighted by the $250,000 Albany for 3-year-olds going 1 1/8 miles and the $150,000 West Point presented by Trustco Bank at 1 1/16 miles on the turf.

Opening Day, Friday, July 22 will kick off with a pair of graded stakes: the Grade 3, $150,000 Schuylerville for 2-year-old fillies and the Grade 3, $200,000 Lake George for 3-year-old turf fillies. Continuing the traditional juvenile dirt stakes at the Spa are the Grade 3, $150,000 Sanford on Saturday, July 23; the Grade 2, $200,000 Saratoga Special on Sunday, August 14 and the Grade 1, $350,000 Hopeful on Monday, September 5, along with their sister races: the Grade 2, $200,000 Adirondack on Saturday, August 13 and the Grade 1, $350,000 Spinaway on Saturday, September 3.

Grade 1 action commences with the $500,000 Diana for turf fillies and mares on Saturday, July 23, and the $300,000 Coaching Club American Oaks for 3-year-old fillies on Sunday, July 24. Continuing the world-class offerings are the aforementioned Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap, Whitney and Test; the Grade 1, $500,000 Fourstardave Handicap at a mile on the turf on Saturday, August 13; Grade 1, $600,000 Alabama on Saturday, August 20, and the Travers, Sword Dancer, Personal Ensign, Forego, Ballerina and King’s Bishop on Saturday, August 27.

Closing weekend features the Grade 1, $600,000 Woodward on Saturday, September 3, with the Grade 2, $300,000 for 3-year-old fillies taking the spotlight on Sunday, September 4.

The stakes schedule for the 148th meet at Saratoga Race Course:              

NYRA