Historic Whitney draws seven
Gun Runner draws post 6, named ML favorite at 4-5
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » Marylou Whitney doesn’t know who she’s picking to win the race yet, but she did help pick the post positions for the 90th running of The Grade 1 Whitney to be run Saturday at Saratoga Race Course.
The Saratoga Springs philanthropist, whose Whitney family namesake graces the name of the $1.2 million handicap, was on hand at Sperry’s to choose the post positions for the sevenhorse field.
She drew Gun Runner into the No. 6 post and NYRA oddsmaker Travis Stone named him the 4-5 morning line favorite. The Steve Asmussen trained 4-year-old was a closing third in the Travers Stakes in 2016 from the No. 13 post at Saratoga.
“We feel like we’re running a faster horse this year,” Asmussen said. “Post position is not an excuse. In a seven horse field you want to get away cleanly, get into a rhythm and I think we’ve had a lot more success when we let him be him.”
Keen Ice, upset winner of the 2015 Travers over American Pharoah, was second-choice at 3-1 and drew the No. 5 post. Todd Pletcher trains the 5-yearold for Donegal Racing and Calumet Farm. Keen Ice is coming off an impressive victory in the Grade 2 Suburban.
“Todd Pletcher says he’s been training the best he has ever trained since (Pletcher) has had him in the barn,” Donegal president Jerry Crawford said. “It’s certainly why Todd wanted to run him back. (Keen Ice) has the chance to be the first horse since 2000 to win the Travers and the Whitney and prep by winning the Suburban. The last being Lemon Drop Kid 17 years ago.”
The rest of the field in order of morning line odds are War Story (6-1) at the rail, Tu Brutus (8-1) from the No. 4 post, Breaking Lucky (8-1) from the No. 2 post, Discreet Lover (25-1) from the No. 7 post and Cautious Giant (301) from the No. 3 post.
Tu Brutus is coming off a third in the Grade 2 Brooklyn, but trainer Gary Contessa thinks the mile-andan-eighth distance is more suitable for the Chileanbred.
“I think the reason he looks like such a speed horse is because of the distances,” Contessa said. “Those races (Brooklyn, Flat Out Stakes, Excelsior) have been devoid of early speed. He’s really a good mile-and-an-eighth horse. On Saturday we’ll prove it or not.”
Before the draw, NYRA CEO Chris Kay commended Whitney for helping to keep racing at Saratoga when interest in the track waned and for her many philanthropic pursuits — including the 10th anniversary of the Saratoga Backstretch Workers Appreciation program started by Whitney and husband John Hendrickson.
“This is but one program of many,” Kay said to Whitney. “You do so many things for so many people here, all we can say is thank you for your wonderful deeds.”
The Whitney, a win and you’re in Breeders’ Cup Classic race, will be televised live on NBC between 5-6 p.m.