Magnitude breezes five furlongs for G1 Whitney
- Magnitude breezes five furlongs for G1 Whitney
- Antiquarian posts final breeze for G1 Whitney
- Pacific Avenue works under Irad Ortiz, Jr. for G1 Saratoga Derby presented by Qatar Racing
- Heeere’s Johnny works for G1 Saratoga Derby presented by Qatar Racing
Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Magnitude worked five furlongs in 1:00.73, according to NYRA clockers, on Saturday morning over the Oklahoma dirt training track as he completes his preparations for Saratoga Race Course’s nine-furlong Grade 1, $1 million Whitney on August 8, a “Win and You’re In” for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic in October at Keeneland.
The Whitney will be broadcast to a national audience on FOX as part of a two-hour edition of FOX Saratoga Saturday, which will begin at 5 p.m. Eastern Time. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule/.
Trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, the 4-year-old Not This Time bay worked to the outside of Tiztastic, who is also nominated to the Whitney for Winchell Thoroughbreds, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith.
“I thought Magnitude went beautifully,” Asmussen said. “Obviously, we are extremely excited about the Whitney and the opportunity it is. We love how he is going into it.”
Magnitude is 14-8-2-1 overall with in excess of $9.6 million in earnings. He launched his campaign with a win in the Grade 3 Razorback Handicap in February at Oaklawn Park, went overseas the following month to capture the Group 1 Dubai World Cup ahead of a last-out score in the Grade 1 Stephen Foster on June 27 at Churchill Downs.
On whether Tiztastic will enter the Whitney, Asmussen said, “I’ll speak with Ron [Winchell] later today. I’ll see what he wants to do. Who’s to say, we’ll see how he’s feeling, but obviously Tiztastic has put in some really good works and he is a pretty accomplished horse himself. I thought they went beautifully.”
Tiztastic, 15-4-1-3 overall with over $1.7 million in earnings, rallied to finish a distant third to Phileas Fogg last out in the Grade 2 Suburban presented by Subourbon Life on July 4 here.
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Antiquarian posts final breeze for G1 Whitney
Antiquarian emerged from the fog on Saturday to post a four-furlong breeze over the Saratoga Race Course main track in 47.37 seconds in preparation for his engagement in next Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Whitney for 3-year-olds and up. The 1 1/8-mile Whitney is a “Win and You’re In” qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
Ridden by jockey Manuel Franco, Antiquarian worked outside of stablemate Classicist and galloped out five furlongs in 1:00 flat, according to NYRA clockers.
“It was a little difficult to see the entire thing because of the fog, but he worked really well down the stretch,” said Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher. “Manny Franco was pretty pleased with the work, so, overall, we are happy.”
Antiquarian is a three-time graded stakes winner best known for his victory in last year’s Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Saratoga. In three starts so far in 2026, the 5-year-old Centennial Farms color bearer soundly defeated three opponents, including Bishops Bay, when winning the Grade 3 Westchester in May at Belmont at the Big A before finishing a non-threatening fourth in two starts at the Spa, the Grade 1 Hill ‘n’ Dale Metropolitan Handicap in June and the Grade 2 Suburban presented by Subourbon Life on July 4, having stumbled at the start in the latter event. His sire, Preservationist, trained by Jimmy Jerkens for Centennial Farms, was fourth in the 2019 Whitney prior to winning that year’s Grade 1 Woodward at this venue and finishing fourth in the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park in what would be his final start.
“By all means, [the Whitney is] a super difficult race, but we feel like he belongs,” said Pletcher.
Pletcher said Local Knowledge, who yesterday won the Grade 2 Amsterdam by a head in his third outing, came out of the 6 1/2-furlong race for 3-year-olds in good shape. The victory gave Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez – who over the years has teamed with Pletcher to win major races with horses like Fierceness, English Channel, Malathaat, Ashado, Always Dreaming, Quality Road, Honey Ryder, Flower Alley, and Harlan’s Holiday – his 800th graded stakes triumph.
“[Local Knowledge] looked good this morning,” said Pletcher. “That was kind of a cool milestone. Hats off to Johnny. It seems like he just keeps getting better.”
Pletcher confirmed that Local Knowledge, who is owned by Spendthrift Farm, is under consideration for the Grade 1, $500,000 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial, a seven-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds on August 29, Grade 1 DraftKings Travers Day.
The trainer next week will unveil Maria Louise, a 3-year-old daughter of 2017 Horse of the Year and Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Gun Runner and 2015 Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff heroine Stopchargingmaria. The $850,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase is owned by Epic Horses and Town and Country Racing and is entered in Wednesday’s third race, a one-mile maiden special weight for fillies and mares. She was set to debut this Wednesday before the card was canceled because of torrential rain.
“She has trained well for her debut,” said Pletcher. “We’re excited about getting her started.”
On Thursday, Pletcher will be represented by Donegal Racing’s Donegal Surges in the $200,000 John Morrissey, a seven-furlong race for New York-breds 3-years-old and up. Donegal Surges has one win in five starts this year and will be cutting back in distance off a last-of-8 finish in the 1 1/8-mile state-bred Commentator on June 3 at Saratoga.
“He just needs to show up with his ‘A’ game, and maybe with a large field he’ll get the pace set up, and, hopefully, he’ll come closing strong,” said Pletcher.
Pletcher enters Saturday's racing action with 5,992 career wins.
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Pacific Avenue works under Irad Ortiz, Jr. for G1 Saratoga Derby presented by Qatar Racing
Godolphin’s Irish homebred Pacific Avenue, last seen finishing a 1 1/2-length seventh in the local Grade 1 Belmont Derby on July 4, posted his final breeze Saturday for next weekend’s Grade 1, $750,000 Saratoga Derby presented by Qatar Racing, at Saratoga Race Course.
Trained by Charlie Appleby, the Dubawi colt endured a difficult trip in the Belmont Derby under William Buick, breaking slow and traveling in last-of-10 before showing late interest.
Pacific Avenue has worked back three times over the Oklahoma training turf with the last two efforts under Irad Ortiz, Jr., working in company with the Richie Mullen-piloted workmate Watching Stars. Saturday’s five-furlong breeze saw Watching Stars lead the pair into their work with Pacific Avenue finishing up smartly on the outside down the lane to overtake his companion and gallop out strongly. NYRA clockers caught Pacific Avenue in 1:02 3/5 with Watching Stars time in 1:03 flat.
Sophie Chretien, traveling assistant for Appleby, said she was pleased with the piece of work.
“I enjoyed the turn-of-foot he gave,” said Chretien, who indicated Ortiz, Jr. will have the call in the Saratoga Derby. “He seems to be fresh, happy and enjoying what he's doing. He's recovered well from his last race. I just hope we don't get too much rain. I'm pleased with what I've seen. He's in good form.”
Pacific Avenue wintered in the Middle East, winning the Al Rayyan in December at Doha ahead of a neck third in the Group 2 Al Rayyan Mile Cup there on February 14. He landed a one-length second in the Jumeirah 2000 Guineas on February 28 at Meydan Racecourse – an event captured by Belmont Derby-winner Title Role, who Pacific Avenue will face again next Saturday.
Pacific Avenue was then freshened and returned to action with a close second at Goodwood on May 1 in a conditions race, setting up a third-place finish in the Group 1 Irish 2,000 Guineas on May 23 at The Curragh ahead of his Belmont Derby try.
“I had him all winter in Dubai. He looked great [there], don't get me wrong, but now he looks like he's put more condition on muscle wise - stronger coat. He's not very tall but he looks strong and healthy,” said Chretien, who successfully traveled Althiqa and Summer Romance to New York in 2021 with the fillies running one-two, respectively, in the Grade 1 Just a Game at Belmont Park and the Grade 1 Diana at the Spa.
Pacific Avenue, out of the Group 1-winning Shamardal mare Lumiere, is a half-brother to Group 2-winner Silver Lady and a full-sibling to Group 3-winner Highland Avenue.
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Heeere’s Johnny works for G1 Saratoga Derby presented by Qatar Racing
Magic Carpet Racing, Catherine Coyle and Blue Bison Stable’s Heeere’s Johnny breezed a half-mile in 50 seconds flat over the Oklahoma training turf, according to NYRA clockers, as he prepares for the Grade 1, $750,000 Saratoga Derby presented by Qatar Racing at 1 3/16-miles, on August 8 at Saratoga Race Course.
Trained by Ray Handal, the Oscar Performance bay worked solo and with jockey Dylan Davis up. The dual graded stakes-placed Heeere’s Johnny closed from last-of-11 to win the 1 1/16-mile restricted Listed Saranac last out on July 3 here. Jaime Rodriguez was up for that score as Davis, his named rider, took off his mounts as a precaution following a spill.
“That was a good work,” Handal said. “The grass had some give in it, which I don’t think is his favorite, and probably why he got beat two starts back on softer turf. But all in all, I think we accomplished what we needed in the work. It looks like he’s ready, that was a big strong gallop out and I got what I needed.”
Handal added that Davis will ride in the Saratoga Derby.
“Dylan is my main guy, Jaime did a great job, and I have no problems with him, he rode a tremendous race, but I don’t like losing my starting quarterback due to injury, so Dylan will go back in,” Handal said. “I have a lot of confidence with Dylan.”
Heeere’s Johnny graduated eighth-out in the Saranac and now holds an 8-1-4-0 record.
As a juvenile, he finished second in the Grade 3 With Anticipation here and the Grade 2 Pilgrim at Belmont at the Big A ahead of a fifth in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf in October at Del Mar.
