Whitney Stakes

Breeders' Cup Challenge Series > Whitney Stakes

Whitney Stakes Race Facts

  • Location: Saratoga Race Course, Saratoga Springs, NY
  • Inaugural Race: 1928
  • Distance: 1 & 1/8th mile (9 furlongs)
  • Track Type: Left-handed, Dirt
  • Age Qualifications: Four Year Olds and up
  • 2023 Purse: $1,000,000
  • 2023 Race Date: Saturday, August 5th

2023 Whitney Stakes Race Results

POST
HORSE
JOCKEY / TRAINER
WIN / PLACE / SHOW
5
White Abarrio
Irad Ortiz, Jr. / Richard E. Dutrow
$22.40 / $7.60 / $2.90
1
Zandon
Jose L. Ortiz / Chad C. Brown
$4.60 / $2.20
6
Cody's Wish
Junior Alvarado / William I. Mott
$2.10
2
Charge It
John R. Velazquez / Todd A. Pletcher
3
Giant Game
Luis Saez / Dale L. Romans
4
Last Samurai
Flavien Prat / D. Wayne Lukas

Exotic Payoffs:

  • $1.00 Exacta (5-1) Paid: $39.50
  • $0.50 Trifecta (5-1-6) Paid: $28.75
  • $0.10 Superfecta (5-1-6-2) Paid: $12.95

Watch the 2023 Whitney Stakes

Whitney Stakes Race History

Formerly known as the Whitney Handicap, the Whitney Stakes is a Grade 1 stakes horse race run each year at the Saratoga Race Course. It ranks alongside the Kentucky Derby as the top Grade 1 race in the US and has attracted some of the greatest horses in history. Notable winners include Equipoise (1932), Discovery (1934-36), War Admiral (1938), Eight Thirty (1939), Devil Diver (1944), Stymie (1946), Tom Fool (1953), Kelso (1961, 1963, 1965), Dr. Fager (1968), Key to the Mint (1972), Ancient Title (1975), Alydar (1978), Slew o' Gold (1984), Easy Goer (1989), and Invasor (2006). In 1963, the race featured one of the most shocking upsets when Secretariat was defeated by Onion.

Since 2007, the winner has earned a spot in the Breeders' Cup Classic as part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series.

Whitney Stakes Past Winners

Year
Winner
Jockey / Trainer
Distance / Time
2023
White Abarrio
Irad Ortiz, Jr. / Richard E. Dutrow
1 1⁄8 M / 1:48.45
2022
Life Is Good
Irad Ortiz, Jr. / Todd A. Pletcher
1 1⁄8 M / 1:48.97
2021
Knicks Go
Joel Rosario / Brad H. Cox
1 1⁄8 M / 1:47.70
2020
Improbable
Irad Ortiz Jr. / Bob Baffert
1 1⁄8 M / 1:48.65
2019
McKinzie
Mike E. Smith / Bob Baffert
1 1⁄8 M / 1:47.10
2018
Diversify
Irad Ortiz Jr. / Richard Violette Jr.
1 1⁄8 M / 1:49.62
2017
Gun Runner
Florent Geroux / Steve Asmussen
1 1⁄8 M / 1:47.71
2016
Frosted
Joel Rosario / Kiaran McLaughlin
1 1⁄8 M / 1:47.77
2015
Honor Code
Javier Castellano / Claude R. McGaughey III
1 1⁄8 M / 1:47.82
2014
Moreno
Junior Alvarado / Eric Guillot
1 1⁄8 M / 1:48.05