Tipsheet: 2026 Whitney Stakes

A star-studded cast of eight fantastic thoroughbreds will run 1 1/8 miles over the Saratoga main oval in Saturday’s historic, $1 million Whitney (G1). 

Whitney Stakes Picks

• #6 Sovereignty
• #8 Baeza
• #1 Magnitude

Whitney Stakes Wagers

• $20 exacta 6 with 1,8
• $3 trifecta 6 with 1,8 with all
• $.50-cent superfecta 6,8 with 6,8 with 1 with all

Whitney Stakes Contenders

#1 MAGNITUDE (9-5): Current leader of the older male division is three-for-three this season, led by impressive wins in the Dubai World Cup (G1) and Stephen Foster (G1) for Steve Asmussen. The four-year-old son of Not This Time has recorded two bullet morning drills on the Oklahoma training surface leading up to his second local appearance, and the Kentucky-bred will be forcing the action from the fence with Jose Ortiz in the irons. 

#2 NITROGEN (4-1): Dynamic filly from the Mark Casse shedrow is unblemished from three outings on the Saratoga strip and will face the boys for the first time. The daughter of Medaglia d’Oro trounced her foes by 12 lengths in the Ogden Phipps (G1) last time, and she wouldn’t be a huge surprise on her favorite surface under the guidance of John Velazquez. 

#3 ANTIQUARIAN (10-1): Pletcher pupil has run into a pair of fantastic winners in consecutive races and will need a career best to upset this cast. The five-year-old chestnut is a Grade 1 victor on the oval with plenty of class to him, and the son of Preservationist will pick up Manny Franco for the ride. 

#4 FORGED STEEL (20-1): Gold Cup (G2) romper ran into a buzzsaw in the Suburban (G2) on the course last time at 10 panels and will cut back to 1 1/8 miles for this marquee event. The Saffie Joseph pupil has never been better, but it’s difficult to see him hanging around late after forcing the tempo against this cast with Micah Husbands in the irons. 

#5 WHITE ABRARRIO (8-1): Second for Saffie Joseph is a multiple Grade 1 victor who has amassed more than $8.5 million in earnings to date. The standout son of Race Day defeated the top pick two back in a wonderful showing in the Oaklawn H. (G2), and a repeat of that showing will make him very dangerous in the stretch in this one with Irad in the silks. 

#6 SOVEREIGNTY (3-1): Reigning Horse of the Year ran some monstrous races on the surface in 2025 and will be set for a peak showing while making his third run of 2026. The dual classic winner has not been as sharp as a four-year-old yet, but he loves the oval and will return to his best from off the pace on Saturday. Regular pilot Junior Alvarado will guide the Godolphin homebred. 

#7 TIZTASTIC (30-1): Second from the Asmussen shedrow rallied late to be third in the Suburban last time out and faces a tougher task in this spot. The son of Tiz the Law will appreciate the expected strong early tempo in the tilt, but he would be a surprise to me with Tyler Gaffalione inheriting the mount. 

#8 BAEZA (7-2): Grade-1 winning son of McKinzie was a tough-luck second in the Stephen Foster (G1) following an awful break at Churchill Downs, and the Mott trainee will be a major threat with a better start on Saturday. The four-year-old bay is twice graded-placed on the strip from a pair of local outings, and the colt could peak in his third run of the year, as well, at a distance that I feel is his best one. Flavien Prat stays in the silks.