Rowan Ward
The best horses in the handicap division are squaring off in the Whitney Stakes at Saratoga Race Course on Saturday, August 6. The race offers a $1 million purse, as well as an automatic berth into the Breeders’ Cup Classic. It is a betting horse race that casual and serious bettors alike look forward to, and seven of the best dirt horses in the country will line up at the gate.
The marquee matchup in the Whitney is the showdown between Life Is Good and Olympiad. Life Is Good, winner of the Pegasus World Cup, romped in the Nerud (G2) last out and is stretching back out to the 1 ⅛ mile distance like the Pegasus. Olympiad is not a G1 winner yet, but he has won five in a row against some of the best, and now he tries to join the big time.
Will one of these horses win, or will someone else spoil the show? Read on to find out!
Where to Bet the Whitney Stakes
It matters to pick the winner of the Whitney, but it matters just as much to bet the Whitney online at the right online sportsbook. Choosing the right betting site now means you can enjoy the best odds and benefits not only now, but for every horse race you bet after this weekend as well.
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Whitney Stakes Horses and Odds
This is the official field for the 2022 Whitney Stakes including draw numbers, trainers, jockeys, and morning lines:
- Americanrevolution (Todd Pletcher/Luis Saez) – 5/1
- Hot Rod Charlie (Doug O’Neill/Flavien Prat) – 9/2
- Zoomer (Mark Casse/Joel Rosario) – 30/1
- Olympiad (Bill Mott/Junior Alvarado) – 2/1
- Happy Saver (Todd Pletcher/John Velazquez) – 8/1
- Life Is Good (Todd Pletcher/Irad Ortiz, Jr.) – 6/5
You are not guaranteed these morning line odds; the prices at the track on each horse fluctuate all the way until post time. Your best bet is to play the Whitney Stakes at an online sportsbook. With online betting, you can lock in the best odds: meaning the price at the moment you bet is the price that you get if your horse wins.
 |  |  |
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| Life Is Good | -135 | -125 | -120 |
| Olympiad | +300 | +330 | +300 |
| Hot Rod Charlie | +600 | +650 | +550 |
| Americanrevolution | +900 | +800 | +600 |
| Happy Saver | +900 | +1200 | +900 |
| Zoomer | +5000 | +10000 | +3000 |
Free Whitney Stakes Picks
Once you have set up your account, it is time to get to know the contenders and make your picks for the 2022 Whitney!
Whitney Stakes Favorites
The horse to bet in the Whitney is Life Is Good. Though he showed in Dubai that is he probably not a mile and an a quarter horse, he proved in the Pegasus that he can get a mile and an eighth, especially if he can make the lead. And, Life Is Good has every chance to make a clean lead from the outside post, especially after sharpening up in a seven-furlong race.
His toughest foe in the field is Olympiad, who has won all five of his starts this year. Olympiad has yet to win a Grade 1, though he has been in some very good Grade 2 races. He can stay the trip, he has never missed the board at Saratoga, and if the rain in the forecast falls, he is by Speightstown: the best slop sire in the game. He just has to prove he can catch Life Is Good.
Hot Rod Charlie will probably get the next most betting interest, both because of his constant presence at the top level and because he is a fan favorite. He has crossed the wire first in both of his starts at this distance, and he keeps hitting the board in good races. However, his only victory against older came in an inferior Group 2 in Dubai, making him underlaid versus this set.
Longer Shots in the Whitney Stakes
Americanrevolution is the most interesting of the three likely longer shots in this race. Though he has tables to turn on Olympiad from last out, he can move forward again third off the lay, especially back in trainer Pletcher’s back yard. The chance of rain also moves Americanrevolution forward, as his most freakish effort was a sloppy win at Belmont last year.
Happy Saver often finds a piece underneath: he has never missed the board in ten starts. However, after winning his first five career races, he has yet to win in his last five. He may have found his ceiling against horses like this. However, his consistency and his stamina mean that he would not be a shock for a piece underneath in this race.
Zoomer rounds out the field. He romped at Saratoga last out, but that came in a $50,000 claiming race. He was taken by a sharp trainer in Mark Casse, and he does have some back form in lesser graded stakes, but he would need a significant improvement in his current form to be able to beat horses of this quality.
Whitney Stakes Free Picks
These are your free expert bets for the 2022 Whitney Stakes! For exotics, with this being a shorter field and with the favorite looking like the goods, key Life Is Good on top and use a few horses for second and third.
- $20 to win – #6 Life Is Good
- $1 exacta – #6 Life Is Good over #1 Americanrevolution and #4 Olympiad
- $0.50 trifecta – #6 Life Is Good over #1 Americanrevolution, #4 Olympiad, and #5 Happy Saver
