The $1 million Whitney Stakes (G1) could be viewed as a prep for an even bigger prize down the road, the $7 million Breeders' Cup Classic (G1).
But for any other race?
Especially at Saratoga Race Course?
Well, for the connections of Arthur's Ride, the most prestigious and important dirt race of the 40-day Saratoga meet for older horses was intended as a warm-up for their main target, the Sept. 1 $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) at the Spa.
Which is indeed what may happen Labor Day weekend.
But at this moment in time, the "prep" race turned out to be a euphoric and extremely successful venture as Arthur's Ride led throughout on a muddy and sealed main track and posted a 2 1/4-length victory in the 94th Whitney Aug. 3 at the Spa.
"It was a pretty good prep," said Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott after winning the Whitney for the first time.
On a day when overnight rain forced the cancellation of two graded turf stakes, for owner Karl Glassman of Glassman Racing, the win was overflowing with emotions.
Foremost, the 4-year-old Tapit colt is named after his late father.
"To watch this with my sister and my siblings and my wife Cathi, it can't get better than that," Glassman said.
There was even more tugging at his heart.
"To stand in the winner's circle at Saratoga is mindboggling. To win the Whitney, you have to be excited. I can't put it in words," he said. "And to be part of Bill Mott 's first Whitney win, my goodness. We'll wake up at some point, but I don't know when."
The Whitney was the seventh career start for Arthur's Ride and his debut in a stakes after a few eventful seasons on the racetrack.
Second in his first two starts at 2, he broke his maiden in his only start at 3 last year, but then hoof and soft tissue issues sidelined him for 13 months.
When he returned in March, he won two of his next three starts, capped by a highly impressive 12 3/4-length romp in a 1 1/4-mile allowance optional claimer June 7 at the Spa, which led Mott to plan for the Jockey Club Gold Cup via the Whitney.
"We felt if we can get him back as a 3- or 4-year-old, he will get better. He was a big, tall, rangy horse who had every license to get better and we were right about that," said Mott, who praised the work of Barry Eisaman during Arthur's Ride's rehab. "This is satisfying. We had him since he was a 2-year-old and he had some obstacles to overcome. Mr. and Mrs. Glassman are wonderful people and have been very patient. I think this is a very emotional moment for him."
Aside from the $550,000 winner's share of the purse, Arthur's Ride also picked up an automatic, fees-paid berth in the Breeders' Cup Classic since the Whitney is a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series event for that Nov. 2 race at Del Mar.
"My wife and I were raised in Southern California so to go to Del Mar for a Breeders' Cup is incredible," Glassman said.
Among the concerns for the connections was the muddy track, but Arthur's Ride handled the track much better than he did in his only other wet-track race, a 23-length loss May 3 at Churchill Downs.
"We were worried. ... When (jockey Junior Alvarado) got off him that day he said he couldn't grab a hold of (the track), it was so deep. (The New York Racing Association) did a great job of taking care of (the track) and he showed his speed and natural ability. We were worried about the rain, the cutback, and the (9 post) but it all worked out thanks to Bill Mott," Glassman said.
Alvarado and Arthur's Ride broke quickly from post 9 in the field of 10 and led through fractions of :46.63 and 1:10.28. He was chased by Skippylongstocking and 4-5 favorite National Treasure , but they faltered in the stretch as the son of the Point Given mare Points of Grace spurted away to a safe five-length lead at the eighth pole.
Repole Stable and St. Elias Stables' Crupi, a 4-year-old son of Curlin , rallied from 10th to take second for trainer Todd Pletcher by a neck over Hillwood Stable's Post Time, a Frosted colt trained by Brittany Russell.
Sent off as the 6-1 third choice, Arthur's Ride ($15.80) was timed in 1:48.54 for the 1 1/8 miles.
"Bill and his team are the best," Glassman said. "We're just along for the ride. Literally, Arthur's Ride."
National Treasure, seeking a third 2024 grade 1 win to enhance his Horse of the Year potential, finished sixth for trainer Bob Baffert under Flavien Prat, who said the Quality Road 4-year-old did not like the wet going.
"He didn't feel good on it," Prat said about the track. "He was traveling, switching leads, and was not as quick today. I would imagine it was the track."
Bred by Helen Barbazon, Joseph Barbazon, and Tapit Syndicate, Arthur's Ride, a half brother to grade 1 winner Victory to Victory (Exchange Rate), is the sixth of seven foals from Points of Grace and her third stakes winner.
He was bought by agent Donato Lanni for $250,000 from the Gainesway consignment at the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
The colt became the 32nd grade 1 winner for three-time North American leading sire Tapit. Tapit has also been represented this year by graded stakes winners Scylla, Tapit Trice , and Batten Down. He stood the 2024 season at Gainesway in Central Kentucky for $185,000.
The 13-race card was reduced to 11 with the postponement of the Saratoga Derby Invitational Stakes (G1T) and the Troy Stakes (G2T) until Aug. 10. In addition. four other turf races were switched to the main track, including the Lure Stakes.
As a result, the Whitney Day all-sources handle was $26,991,174, down from $32,275,573 a year ago.
Attendance was 37,114.
