HORSE RACING

2022 Whitney Stakes Betting Odds and Contenders Preview

The 2022 Whitney Stakes (G2) at Saratoga is one of the most important races for older handicap horses all summer. It offers a purse of $1 million, and the winner also earns an automatic berth into the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

The field of six includes two of the marquee horses in the older dirt division right now: Pegasus World Cup (G1) winner Life Is Good and Stephen Foster (G2) winner Olympiad. Their foes also include Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) winner Happy Saver, Pennsylvania Derby (G1) winner Hot Rod Charlie, Cigar Mile (G1) winner Americanrevolution, and Grade 3-placed long shot Zoomer, who makes his first start for the Mark Casse barn.

Stay right here to learn more about the Whitney Stakes contenders, as well as find out how to watch and wager on the race online!

Whitney Stakes 2022 Information

Race Date: Saturday, August 6, 2022
Track: Saratoga Race Course
Post Time: 5:43 p.m. Eastern Time
Distance: 1 1/8 miles on dirt
Age/Sex: 4-year-old and up
Where to Watch: NBC, TVG.com
Where to Bet: TVG.com and FanDuel Racing

Whitney Stakes Odds

On Wednesday, August 3 the Saratoga racing office drew the field for the 2022 Whitney Stakes and the morning line was assigned shortly thereafter. Love odds will change all the way until post time since pari-mutuel odds are based on how much money is actually bet on the horses in the field. However, the morning line often gives a good suggestion of what the betting will look like on Saturday afternoon.

This is the field for the Whitney in post-position order, including morning line odds, trainers, and jockeys.

PostHorseTrainerJockeyOdds
1AmericanrevolutionTodd PletcherLuis Saez5-1
2Hot Rod CharlieDoug O'NeillFlavien Prat9-2
3ZoomerMark CasseJoel Rosario30-1
4OlympiadBill MottJunior Alvarado2-1
5Happy SaverTodd PletcherJohn Velazquez8-1
6Life Is GoodTodd PletcherIrad Ortiz, Jr.6-5


As post time draws closer, make sure to watch TVG.com for the latest odds on the contenders. Not only can you make sure that you will actually get the right odds to play a horse you are considering, but the tote can give you other useful betting information as well. If a horse you expect to take money is not taking the action you expect, that means they are cold on the board and may end up running below standard. On the other hand, if a longer shot is taking a lot of betting action, it may mean they are more live than previously thought. These clues can help you make an astute betting decision.

Whitney Stakes Prep Results

With Saratoga being a short meet, there is no single designated “local prep” for the Whitney. This year’s field comes in from five different races. Life Is Good cut back to seven furlongs for the John A. Nerud (G2) at Belmont in his last start, though he did win at this 1 ⅛-mile distance three starts back in the Pegasus. Olympiad and Americanrevolution finished 1-2 in the Stephen Foster on July 2 at Churchill Downs in their most recent start. Happy Saver most recently ran second to Flightline in the Met Mile (G1), though note that two back he finished second to Olympiad in the Alysheba (G2) at Churchill Downs. Hot Rod Charlie, in his first outing since Dubai, last finished second in the Salvator Mile (G3) on June 18 at Monmouth.

The only horse in this year’s Whitney who did not prepare in a graded race is Zoomer, who is also the only horse who has raced at the Spa this meet. July 17, he romped in an open $50,000 claiming race.

Whitney Stakes Contenders

Americanrevolution: This stalking-type improved second off the layoff to finish second in the Foster last out, but still was beaten by Olympiad on the square and will have to move forward to turn the tables. Perhaps he can: he beat New York-breds in absolutely freakish fashion over a wet track last October, and with wet weather in the forecast, he could play spoiler.

Hot Rod Charlie: He did everything but win the Salvator Mile in his first start back from Dubai, and keep in mind that even though the Salvator was only a Grade 3 he was beaten by Mind Control, a real Grade 1 horse. He has crossed the wire first in both of his Grade 1 tries, and blinkers should help him focus the speed he has.

Zoomer: This son of Curlin has class to prove, as he comes into this race out of a win against claiming company. He was taken by trainer Mark Casse and owner Gary Barber out of that start, and steps up to Grade 1 company for this. Zoomer most recently tried graded foes May 7 at Belmont, where he was a distant third to Cody’s Wish in the Westchester. He needs to run his best, but he does have some strong back form and some versatility of pace.

Olympiad: The revelation of the handicap division so far this year, Olympiad is perfect in five starts this year. This tactical-speed type has yet to win a Grade 1, but his last two victories have come in high-quality Grade 2 races against some foes he sees here. And, though he has never raced on an off track, the chance of rain should be no problem for him: he is by Speightstown, the best wet-track sire in the game.

Happy Saver: He won the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) as a three-year-old. He is now five, and though he has not won since an allowance race last May, he has still never finished off the board in ten career starts. That includes a useful record at a mile and an eighth, two wins and a second, with that second coming in the Clark (G1) last year. Expect him to come on from a few lengths back and get his customary share.

Life Is Good: Though Dubai made it clear that he is not a ten-furlong horse, he proved in the Pegasus that he can handle nine. He regularly shows speed, and that victory in the seven-furlong Nerud should have him sharpened up for this. Speed plays well at Saratoga, and he is consistent enough that catching him will require the rest to be on their best.

Whitney Stakes Past Winners Past Performances

Over the last ten years, no Whitney winner has finished worse than second in their most recent start, and all of those most-recent starts have come in graded company. In 2022, all of the Whitney entrants came either second or first in their most recent race, and all but Zoomer last ran in a graded race.

The most frequent prep race for Whitney winners has been the Met Mile. Frosted (2016) and Honor Code (2015) both won the Met Mile in their last start before winning the Whitney, and McKinzie (2019) and Cross Traffic (2013) both ran second. Happy Saver is the only one coming into this year’s Whitney from the Met Mile, and his second-place finish there puts him right into this successful pattern.

Other productive prep races include the Stephen Foster, the Suburban (G2), and the Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Handicap (G3). No one comes into the race this year out of the Suburban or the Cornhusker, though both Olympiad and Americanrevolution last raced in the Foster.

Whitney Stakes Undercard

The Whitney Stakes is the 10th race on Saratoga’s 12-race Saturday card. The card also features four other stakes events: the Saratoga Derby (G1) for three-year-old turf routers, the Test (G1) for sophomore filly sprinters, the Glens Falls (G2) for older long-distance turf mares, and the Lure for older turf males. With a full day of racing and so many class horses entered on the card, it will feature many great betting opportunities. Saturday is a perfect day to tune into Saratoga and play them on TVG or FanDuel all afternoon long!

Saratoga Race Course

Based in Saratoga Springs, New York, Saratoga Race Course is the oldest organized sporting venue of any kind in the United States. John Hunter, who became the first chairman of The Jockey Club, and William R. Travers built the horse racing track in 1864.

Saratoga has two popular nicknames—The Spa, named for the nearby mineral springs, and the Graveyard of Favorites, named for the historic upsets recorded there in years past. Perhaps most notable is Man o' War’s only defeat in 21 starts, Secretariat’s loss to Onion after winning the Triple Crown, and Rachel Alexandra losing there in her four-year-old season.

There are three separate horse racing tracks at Saratoga: a main dirt track; an outer turf track known as the Mellon Turf Course, and an inner turf horse racing track. The main dirt track has a 1 1/8 mile circumference, the Mellon Turf Course is a 1-mile turf track and the inner turf track is 7 furlongs. Additionally, there is the Oklahoma Track, used for morning training.

Whitney Stakes FAQ

Q: When is the Whitney Stakes?
A: Saturday, August 6, 2022, at 5:43 p.m. Eastern time.

Q: Where is the Whitney Stakes?
A: The race happens at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York.

Q: Which trainer has the most wins in the Whitney Stakes?
A: Trainer John M. Gaver, Sr. has the most wins in the Whitney, with five winners including Devil Diver and Tom Fool. Among active trainers, Todd Pletcher leads with three: Left Bank (2022), Lawyer Ron (2007), and Cross Traffic (2013). Pletcher sends out Americanrevolution, Happy Saver, and Life Is Good in 2022.

Q: Who is the favorite for the Whitney Stakes?
A: Life is Good is the 6-5 morning line favorite for the Whitney Stakes, and assuming he does not scratch he should go off at the shortest price. Olympiad, 2-1 on the morning line, should be a well-defined second choice.

Q: Who is the best Whitney Stakes jockey?
A: Pat Day and Jerry Bailey are tied with the most Whitney Stakes wins, with five. Among active riders, John Velazquez leads with four victories, most recently in 2013 with Cross Traffic. Velazquez has a chance to tie the all-time record this year; he rides Happy Saver.

Q: Who won the Whitney Stakes in 2021?
A: Knicks Go, for trainer Brad Cox and jockey Joel Rosario, won the Whitney in 2021. Cox does not have a horse in the 2022 edition, though Rosario returns with Zoomer.