Whitney

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

The $750,000 Whitney H. (G1), centerpiece of Saturday’s $1.75 million
“Breeders’ Cup Challenge Day” at Saratoga, is deep with contenders. STUDENT
COUNCIL (Kingmambo), RISING MOON (Runaway Groom), SOLAR FLARE (Arg) (Salt Lake),
NOTIONAL (In Excess [Ire]), A. P. ARROW (A.P. Indy) and even MERCHANT MARINE
(Tiznow) all merit serious respect for top honors from our perspective, but
we’re going with the speed.

COMMENTATOR (Distorted Humor) hasn’t been around two turns since 2005. He
weakened to second after setting the pace in the Metropolitan H. (G1) last
time, but the seven-year-old gelding is back at the Spa, and he loves Saratoga
Springs, New York. The Nick Zito runner knocked off eventual Horse of the Year
Saint Liam in the 2005 Whitney, leading wire-to-wire for a neck decision that
netted him a career-best 117 BRIS Speed rating. Commentator entered that edition in top
form, registering a 116 Speed rating in his previous outing, and the lightly
raced New York-bred has recorded Speed ratings of 113 and 107 so far this
season. Razor-sharp presently, the chestnut has been working up a storm for
this start, posting a four-furlong bullet move over the Oklahoma training track
last week, and he’s favorably drawn on the rail. They’ll have to catch him.

Solar Flare has acclimated to North American racing quite nicely, recording a
sharp allowance/optional claiming victory at Delaware Park in his U.S. debut two
starts back and a close second in the Suburban H. (G1) most recently. The Larry
Jones charge received a very legitimate 110 Speed rating for both efforts, and the four-year-old colt is well-drawn here in post 2. With
his good tactical speed, Solar Flare figures to sit a perfect ground-saving trip
behind the early leaders before offering his bid under Gabriel Saez.

Merchant Marine, who will will enter this event on the upswing for the
ever-crafty Allen Jerkens, is a dangerous upset candidate. The four-year-old
easily captured an allowance/optional claiming event three starts back and
followed it with a game win in the Yankee Victor S., registering a 102 Speed
rating for both efforts. He offered a good middle move to reach contention last
time in the Suburban before flattening out a little late, but the late-blooming
gelding gained valuable experience while earning a 105 Speed figure. Merchant
Marine is improving, and he’s a threat to put it all together against a
less-than-stellar Whitney cast.

Student Council drew a tough post (10), but he’s got the class to be a
serious factor. Winner of the Pimlico Special H. (G1) two starts back, the
six-year-old exits a decent third in the Hollywood Gold Cup (G1). The Steve
Asmussen trainee carries his form on any main track, and he’s got enough speed
to save some ground around the first bend. He appears to be training well for
this start and is a must-use for us on the bottom of the exotics.

Notional was a top contender for last year’s Kentucky Derby (G1) before being
sidelined by an injury, but he didn’t return at the same level earlier this
season. The California-bred finally got things turned around in the Salvator
Mile H. (G3) last out, recording an excellent 2 1/4-length decision over Gottcha
Gold (Coronado’s Quest) from just off the pace, and he merits a long look in
this spot. Notional will pick up the services of Edgar Prado, and he drew a
favorable inside post (3). The stalker could loom large turning for home.

Rising Moon also merits respect. Trained by Richard Dutrow, the five-year-old
gray entered the Suburban in good form last time, but he suffered a bit of an
uneven trip, appearing to be out of it at the top of the stretch before coming
again late. The stalker still received a very respectable Speed rating (107),
and his numbers in his last three outings are strong. Rising Moon reeled off
four straight wins prior to his last outing, and he’s eligible to improve off
the class check. Don’t be surprised to see him offer a rally from off the pace.

A. P. Arrow is another exotics contender. The Todd Pletcher pupil doesn’t win
often, but he fits well at this level. However, we didn’t like his dull effort
in the Suburban and will have to take a stand against him here. GRASSHOPPER
(Dixie Union) showed a preference for the Spa last year, winning an
allowance/optional claiming event by six lengths before finishing second in the
Travers S. (G1) to Street Sense, but his recent form is too discouraging for us
to recommend his chances. We’ll let the Grade 3 winner beat us.

TIMBER RESERVE (Forest Camp) was a promising three-year-old last summer but
headed to the sidelines after garnering the Pennsylvania Derby (G2). He returned
earlier this year with a dull showing at Gulfstream, and we would’ve preferred
to have seen trainer John Kimmel give him a confidence builder before throwing
him in a tough spot like this. The dark bay also drew the far outside post.

TASTEYVILLE (With Approval) figures to show speed, but he’s unplaced in two
previous starts at the Spa and has class concerns on Saturday. COWTOWN CAT
(Distorted Humor) looks better at middle distances and could find himself
overmatched here.