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Saratoga Diary: Wishing Whitney Well

Hernandez had probably recorded the biggest triumph of his life and seemed more pre-occupied with helping the media know how Fort Larned managed to win than with celebrating.

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Ron the Greek Should Prove Best in Whitney

Top class stayer gets plenty of pace to run at.

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The Whitney Holds Breeders' Cup Classic Berth

The path to the Breeders' Cup Classic heads to Upstate New York Saturday when the $750,000 Whitney (GI) is run at Saratoga Race Course, with the winner earning an automatic starting berth into the Classic.

Whitney or Forego Next for Shackleford

Shackleford is scheduled to enter stud at Darby Dan Farm near Lexington following the 2012 racing season. But before he becomes a stallion, the 4-year-old son of Forestry still has plenty of work to do.

Haskell Targeted as Dullahan Returns to Work

Dullahan and Shackleford were among the stars from trainer Dale Romans' barn that posted published workouts at Churchill Downs June 23.

Ron the Greek Points for Saratoga Start

Summer start will keep 5-year-old son of Full Mandate on track for Jockey Club Gold Cup, Breeders' Cup Classic plans.

Morning Line Has Surgery, Return Expected

Grade I winner Morning Line had chips removed from both knees Aug. 17 and is expected to return to racing next year.

Morning Line Sent to Lane's End for Time Off

Morning Line, last in the Whitney Invitational Handicap (gr. I) Aug. 6, will get some time off at Will Farish's Lane's End Farm in Kentucky. The 4-year-old Tiznow colt departed Saratoga on Aug. 10.

Saratoga Diary: Tour de Force

Dominant performances dominate Whitney Day

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Spendthrift Buys Breeding Interest in Tizway

Spendthrift Farm has acquired the breeding interest in Tizway, winner of the Aug. 6 Whitney Handicap (gr. I) at Saratoga.

An Attractive Whitney Weekend

Jason Shandler takes a look at the Whitney and other weekend stakes.

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THS: Whitney Handicap 2011

Jason, Tom, and Ed DeRosa of TwinSpires.com, handicap the Whitney Invitational Handicap and West Virginia Derby.

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2011 Whitney - Predict the Order

Will a Rail Trip make a Mission Impazible for Friend Or Foe running Flat Out?

Predict the Order

Division Parity Leads to Competitive Whitney

The handicap division has taken its lumps this year for not being especially deep, but its competitive nature has led to one of the more intriguing recent editions of the $750,000 Whitney Handicap (gr. I), which drew 11.

Tizway is Bond's Ticket Back to Whitney

Trainer James Bond has had success in the Whitney Handicap (gr. I) at Saratoga, and he hopes to continue his run Aug. 6 with Tizway.

Tizway Readies for Whitney

Metropolitan Handicap (gr. I) winner Tizway had his final serious work for the Aug. 6 Whitney Invitational Handicap (gr. I), covering five furlongs over Saratoga's Oklahoma training track in 1:00 1/5 July 29.

Classic at Churchill Main Goal for Pool Play

Proven on dirt after his 36-1 upset in the Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) June 18, synthetic track specialist Pool Play is aiming for similarly lucrative spots on his unaccustomed surface, trainer Mark Casse said.

Mine That Bird to Get Blinkers for Woodward

The Birdstone gelding hasn't won since scoring an upset in last year's Kentucky Derby Presented By Yum! Brands (gr. I).

Countdown to the Cup: And Then Came Blame

Blame helped celebrate Claiborne Farm's 100th anniversary with a dramatic win in the Whitney.

Saratoga Diary: Blame's Game

Horseplayers expected the Whitney to be highway robbery with Quality Road the 1-2 favorite, but Blame won in a street fight.

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For Quality Road, a Different Kind of Year

The script didn't play out that well for Quality Road last year during his 3-year-old season, but in 2010 it's so far, so good, trainer Todd Pletcher said.

Quality Road Blasts Bullet at Saratoga

Quality Road, the top older male in training, continued preparations for the Aug. 7 Whitney Handicap (gr. I) with what trainer Todd Pletcher termed a "spectacular" five-furlong move.

Pletcher's Stars Breeze at Belmont

It was a busy Father's Day morning for trainer Todd Pletcher at Belmont Park, highlighted by half-mile breezes from stable stars Quality Road and Super Saver June 20.

Mine That Bird in Bullet; Whitney the Goal

Double Eagle Ranch and Buena Suerte Equine's 2009 Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winner Mine That Bird, working in company with Bird Empire, drilled five furlongs in :59.60 over a fast track June 15 at Churchill Downs.

Commentator Going to Old Friends

Tracy and Carol Farmer have chosen Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement Farm in Georgetown, Ky., as the permanent home for two-time Whitney Handicap (gr. I) winner Commentator, it was announced Oct. 2.

NYRA Honors Commentator at Saratoga

The New York Racing Association (NYRA) paid tribute to Commentator Sept. 6, at Saratoga Race Course. The 8-year-old chestnut gelding, owned by Tracy Farmer and trained by Hall of Famer Nick Zito, was retired from racing Aug. 9, a day after finishing third in the Whitney Handicap (gr. I). He was attempting to join Discovery and Kelso as the only three-time winners of the race in its 82-year history.

Commentator to be Honored at Saratoga Sept. 6

The New York Racing Association will pay tribute to one of the most popular horses in racing when the recently-retired Commentator is honored on Sept. 6 at Saratoga.

Bullsbay Confirms Tiznow/Turkoman Affinity

MAHUBAH'S CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter

Stamina influence Tiznow again matches with a speed-oriented Turkoman-line mare. Whitney Handicap (gr. I) winner Bullsbay joins Colonel John as elite runners bred on the cross.

Commentator Retired, Zito Announces

Tracy Farmer's two-time Whitney Handicap (gr. I) winner Commentator has been retired after finishing third in his quest for a record-tying third win in the Saratoga event, trainer Nick Zito announced on the morning of Aug. 9.

Bullsbay Scores Huge Upset in Whitney

The longest shot in a field of six, 18-1 Bullsbay pulled a shocking upset in the $750,000 Whitney Handicap (gr. I) Aug. 8 at Saratoga, splitting horses on the turn and pulling away for a 1 1/2-length score under Jeremy Rose.

Asiatic Boy Scratched From Whitney With Fever

Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin was forced to scratch Asiatic Boy from the Aug. 8 Whitney Handicap (gr. I) after the 6-year-old horse developed a fever the afternoon before the race.

THS: Arlington Million (Video)

Jason, Tom, and Les Instone from Brisnet/Twinspires.com preview the Arlington Million (gr. I). Plus picks for the Whitney (gr. I).

Commentator Shoots For Third Whitney

The ageless Commentator will try to stand alongside the great Kelso as the oldest horse ever to win the prestigious Whitney Handicap (gr. I), a race he will also attempt to capture for a record-tying third time.

Commentator Turns in Another Big Move

Commentator, the 8-year-old who Aug. 8 will attempt to become only the third horse in history to win the $750,000 Whitney Handicap (gr. I) three times, turned in another excellent work Aug. 1 at Saratoga, covering a half-mile in :47.85, handily.

Commentator All Set For Another Whitney Try

Tracy Farmer's Commentator, the expected elder statesmen of the $750,000 Whitney Handicap (gr. I) on Aug. 8 at Saratoga, turned in a bullet work over the Oklahoma track at Saratoga July 23, breezing five furlongs in :59.12.

Commentator Odds-On For MassCap

Commentator, a two-time grade I winner for Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito, leads a field of seven for the $500,000 Massachusetts Handicap Sept. 20 at Suffolk Downs.

Student Council Eyes Pacific Classic

Millennium Farms' Student Council, second in the July 26 Whitney Handicap (gr. I) at Saratoga, is preparing to defend his title in the $1-million Pacific Classic (gr. I) on Aug. 24 at Del Mar in California.

Zito Talks Mass Cap for Commentator

Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito gave every credit to Commentator after the 7-year-old gelding won his second Whitney Handicap (gr. I) by 4 ¾ lengths over Student Council and Grasshopper July 26 at Saratoga. Zito was thrilled that the New York-bred, owned by Tracy Farmer, can now be counted alongside multiple Whitney winner Kelso.

Commentator Up to Old Tricks in Whitney

Three years after last winning the Whitney Handicap (gr. I), 7-year-old Commentator returned to the Saratoga winner's circle when he galloped to a surprisingly easy front-running victory in the $750,000 Spa fixture.

That Handicapping Show: July 24 Episode

Hosted by Jason Shandler and Tom LaMarra, "That Handicapping Show" is a weekly video show dedicated to horse players. This week, Jason and special guest Evan Hammonds take a look at the Whitney Handicap. Plus, picks from John Pricci of Equiform.

Zito Hoping for Same Old Commentator

Three years after winning the Whitney Handicap (gr. I), Tracy Farmer's Commentator returns to Saratoga's richest race for handicap horses as the most accomplished of the 11 entered in the July 26 fixture.

Giant Gizmo Sidelined With Fracture

Stronach Stables' Giant Gizmo, winner of his last three starts, will be sidelined for the remainder of the year with a non-displaced condylar fracture in his right front leg, trainer Bobby Frankel said July 22.

Saratoga Stakes Probables Announced

Fans of Saratoga Race Course can't wait for the track to open its 140th season Wednesday, July 23 and they won't have to wait much longer for the high-quality stakes races that make the Spa one of Thoroughbred racing's top meetings.

Commentator Destroys Richter Scale Foes

Tracy Farmer's Commentator proved to be back in the top form he was nearly three years ago when he won the 2005 Whitney Handicap (gr. I), this time trouncing five rivals to take the $200,000 Richter Scale Sprint Handicap (gr. II) by 13 3/4-lengths March 8 at Gulfstream Park.

Lawyer Ron Champion Older Male

Lawyer Ron made a successful case for himself as 2007's champion older male. Racing for the estate of his breeder and original owner, the late Ownesboro, Ky., businessman James T. Hines Jr., Lawyer Ron, for the second consecutive season, earned better than $1 million, and won a pair of grade I contests in impressive fashion.

Parties in Lawyer Ron Legal Battle Agree on Dismissal

The legal battle focused on Lawyer Ron has been jointly dismissed by the involved parties, and a decision on the racing future of the multiple grade I winner is expected shortly.

Brass Hat to Return to Spa for Woodward; Rags in Sharp Work

Despite his poor effort in the Whitney Handicap (gr. I), Brass Hat will make a return visit to Saratoga for the Woodward Stakes (gr. I) Sep. 1, trainer Buff Bradley said Sunday.

Legal Battle Over Lawyer Ron's Career 'in Limbo'

Lawyer Ron's victory in the July 28 Whitney Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga apparently has had no impact on the lawsuit between his owners, a legal dispute that one of the principal parties described as being "in limbo."

Steve Haskin's BC Countdown: A Sense of Saratoga

Street Sense is back and so is Rags to Riches. All is once again right with the racing world. If Curlin emerges victorious from next week's Haskell Invitational Handicap (gr. I), then the Breeders' Cup World Championships will have the star power it so desperately needs.

Lawyer Ron's Whitney Time Deemed Accurate

The winning time of 1:46.64 for Lawyer Ron in the July 28 Whitney Handicap (gr. I) has been confirmed as the nine-furlong, main-track record at Saratoga Race Course.