Betting With, and Against, National Treasure in the Whitney Stakes

A deep field of 12 will travel 1 1/8 miles on the Saratoga main surface in Saturday’s historic $1 million Whitney S. (G1). Despite the field having so much quality and depth, the event still goes through recent Met Mile (G1) winner #3 National Treasure (9-5) for conditioner Bob Baffert. 

The four-year-old son of Quality Road is a three-time Grade 1 winner coming off arguably his best effort when dominating last time out. It’s difficult to omit the colt who is also the swiftest horse in the field over a surface that often plays kindly to speed, especially in route events on the dirt. 

But I’ll try to defeat him, nonetheless.

National Treasure – With

• 50-cent superfecta 3 with 2,4,9,11 with 2,4,9,11 with all ($49)

National Treasure – Against

• $15 win and place win #2 Disarm ($30)
• 50-cent trifecta 2 with 3,4,9,11 with all ($20)

#2 Disarm (15-1) is something of a sentimental selection for Steve Asmussen, but the colt has plenty of merit and wouldn’t surprise me. 

The talented Gun Runner colt concluded his good sophomore campaign with a superb runner-up performance in the Travers S. (G1). While he hasn’t built upon that as of yet in 2024, this could be his breakthrough performance. 

The chestnut colt put in a clunker in the Stephen Foster (G1) at Churchill in his second run of the season, but he has worked well at this venue in the interim. The Winchell homebred is sitting on a big one. 

He likes to track from off the pace and wear his foes down in the lane. He received a nice post draw to do so, where the pace of the race will be solid at the very least. Joel Rosario will guide the longshot pick. 

A pair of contenders will be facing major class hikes, but each comes off sensational showings on this surface in their latest endeavors. 

#4 Warrior Johny (20-1) would be a big surprise, but I can’t overlook the massive 111 Brisnet Speed figure that he earned in an allowance romp in his latest showing. The Cairo Prince gelding has exotics appeal with anything resembling that performance as Tyler Gaffalione takes the reins. 

#11 Arthur’s Ride (8-1) was a 12-length winner on the surface in his latest try for Bill Mott while making his two-turn debut. The Tapit colt enjoyed a perfect voyage on the front end when speed carried so well in that triumph. He has flashed big potential and might be putting it all together right now. Junior Alvarado has the call. 

One other horse of interest to me is Grade 1 star #9 Bright Future (5-1). 

The Todd Pletcher pupil is 2-for-2 on the oval, led by a game win in the Jockey Club (G1), and his return race was very impressive from a visual standpoint. The lightly raced son of Curlin seemed beaten turning for home at Monmouth in the Salvator Mile (G3), but he surged late and galloped out huge in posting a win versus softer foes. It was an excellent seasonal debut, and he merits respect.