Whitney Day Updates, Live From Saratoga Race Course:

Welcome to my Whitney day blog live from Saratoga Race Course for an especially strong edition of the $1 million Whitney Stakes (G1). I'll provide updates on the 1 1/8-mile Whitney, today's other three grade 1 races, and the entire 14-race card while also pointing you to all of the coverage BH is providing today from senior correspondent Bob Ehalt, assistant news editor Sean Collins, and features editor Karen Johnson. Update 7: Sad News Away From Spa Had to pause a bit from this live blog to write up some sad news. The young stallion Girvin, who has been on the upswing, died suddenly today at Airdrie Stud near Midway, Ky. Airdrie's Bret Jones called him an "absolute gift." Story to come at BH.com. I'll add link once it's live. Update 6: Gadreau Delivers In the stretch Gadreau, my top pick, dug in to hold off Coach Pope and U. S. S. Valor to win on debut. (Hopefully that's not the high point of my handicapping today!) Bred in Louisiana by Coteau Grove Farm, Gaudreau is a son of Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Nyquist and is out of stakes-placed Free Cover, by Congrats. Update 5: late scratch Coach's Pals has been scratched from the first race. He was on his way to the gate when scratched. Update 4: Handicapping Thoughts Today's win bets are Vibe in race 3, And the Runner Is in race 12, Lagynos in race 10 (the Fourstardave), Remember Mamba in race 11 (Saratoga Derby), and Magnitude in race 12 (Whitney). How to read this short-hand. Horses are listed in order of preference. A slash differentiates A picks and B picks. "A picks" are horses I need to include in horizontal wagers. "B picks" are horses I would like to include. When there is only one selection listed, or a single selection before the slash, that will be a win bet for me. Update 3: Setting the Stage Looking for a hot jockey today? Manny Franco tied the Saratoga single-day wins record when he guided six horses to victory yesterday, capping his big day with a victory on Bottas in the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes (G2T). Besides that accomplishment, Bottas' victory put trainer Miguel Clement in the winner's circle on the same day that his late father, Christophe, was inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame. In Friday's other stakes race at Saratoga, Kentucky Belle delivered a scintillating late run to capture the Saratoga Oaks (G2T). Analysis: Upon watching yesterday's races and reviewing the results, both turf courses were playing toward horses off the pace. I did not find any bias on the main track. Update 2: Milestone Watch Besides today's very strong edition of the Whitney Stakes (G1), and the day's three other grade 1 tests, trainer Todd Pletcher will be aiming for a milestone. The Racing Hall of Fame conditioner enters the day with 5,999 wins. Pletcher, who leads all North American trainers in career purse earnings at $525,978,783, will try to become just the sixth trainer to reach 6,000 career wins. He has 10 horses entered today, all at Saratoga Race Course: Race 1, With Luck Forward; race 2, Live; race 3 Classicist and Vibe; race 4, Lovely Cristina; race 6, Red Poppy; Race 8, Bold Leadership and Djokovic; race 12, Antiquarian (Whitney Stakes); race 14, Versailles Road. My thought: Pletcher lands the milestone win with Vibe in race 3, as he bounces back from a poor effort in the Metropolitan Handicap (G1). Update 1: Today's scratches, as of 9:54 a.m. Race 3 #2 Bramito Race 4 #1 Consumer Sentiment #10 Hidden Rose #11 Fast and Frisky #12 Soundbite Race 5 #3 Agoo #5 Princip Race 6 #1 Violet the Ultra #5 Norah Begorrah Race 7 #11 Noble Factor #13 Castle Chaos Race 8 #7 Revenue Stream #8 Surety Race 10 #4 Classic Q Race 11 #5 Pacific Avenue #9 Bottas Race 13 #6 Miss Elle Race 14 #1 Rothschild #3 Presider #12 Mutaawid #14 Sagamore Mischief Weather Overcast skies are greeting early arrivers today at the Spa. That has contributed to cooler temperatures than yesterday with the current temperature at 76 degrees with an expected high of 85 around 3-4 p.m. There's only a slight chance of rain today, peaking at 35% around 5 p.m. To start the day, the main track is fast and the turf courses are firm. Race day The Whitney Stakes will be contested as Race 12 on today's card with an expected post time of 6:33 p.m. The $500,000 Test Stakes (Race 9, 4:36 p.m.) for 3-year-old fillies going seven furlongs begins a stretch of four straight grade 1 races. It will be followed by the $750,000 Fourstardave Stakes (Race 10, 5:14 p.m.) for 3-year-olds and older going a mile on the inner turf, the $750,000 Saratoga Derby Stakes (Race 11, 5:52) for 3-year-olds going 1 3/16 miles on the turf, and then the Whitney. The 14-race card is scheduled to begin at 11:45 a.m. ET with a maiden special weight race for 2-year-olds. The day's final race is scheduled for 7:39 p.m., an allowance-optional claiming race on the inner turf. The $1 Pick 6 begins with the Test, includes all four grade 1 races plus the day's final two races. Oddly, there is no Pick 5 that includes all four of the grade 1 stakes. The Pick 5 begins with the Fourstardave, as does the Grand Slam (a personal favorite wager). Television FOX Sports will be the home of today's races with the main FOX channel presenting the four grade 1 stakes from 5-7 p.m. FS2 will cover the other races on the card from 11:30 a.m.-5 p.m. and then after the FOX broadcast from 7 p.m.-8 p.m. for the day's final two races. So watch on TV and keep check this live blog for news updates, my thoughts, a bit of handicapping, and pushes to all of our stories. Today's complete racing on radio, television, and streaming schedule