Whitney Stakes Are Today and WGY Has You Covered!

One of the Saratoga season's biggest events is all set to go: the Whitney Stakes.

810 & 103.1 WGY financial analyst Steve Bouchey is one of the owners of, 'Keen Ice,' who will be in the field.

He says his horse is a closer, and hopes he will be able to grab the lead down the stretch.

"'Gun Runner' is the top choice, we hope another horse can keep him busy, so, 'Keen Ice' can do what he loves to do, and that is hit the top of the stretch, and just turbo-charge through the finish line, leaving everybody behind."

He adds that the training has been a definite improvement to the overall performance.

"'Keen Ice' right now is training as good as he's ever trained, being a five-year-old horse, Todd Pletcher has done an amazing job bringing him around."

Of course, 'Keen Ice' has already made history at the race course.

The horse's main claim to fame was from a shocking win at the 2015 Travers Stakes, defeating triple crown winner, 'American Pharaoh.'

Bouchey says there is only one negative to the horse's chances.

"We would rather have the race be a mile and a quarter, this race is a mile and an eighth, that may be the only downside to a shorter race, he loves that extra length."

Still, 'Gun Runner' is the favorite.

New York Times sports writer and racing expert Joe Drape tells FOX Sports 980's Tred Hulse, 'Gun Runner' is a late-blooming four-year-old, whose best days may be ahead.

"When you want him to be a great, one winner, we don't think we're gonna do it this year, because he was in that class with, 'American Pharoah' and everybody else, and so, they just kind of hung with him a bit, and he's turned into a very good, maturing racehorse, so he really is gonna be hard to beat."

Drape adds that the Saratoga Race Course is known as the, "Graveyard of Champions."

"He looks like he lays over the field right now, but he needs some things to happen, a sloppy track; he may not like it up here."

Drape says the contributions of the Whitney family, and William Whitney, to the Saratoga Race Course, cannot be overlooked.

"His influence is here everywhere, I mean, he was the guy who envisioned this, or who envisioned what it is today, he took it for the historic jewel that it is, he was a great benefactor to the horses."

William C. Whitney acquired the race course in 1900, with several other people involved in a syndicate.

Whitney led an upgrading of the track, that included the purchase of what is known today as the Oklahoma training track.

He also helped restore the main track that had fallen into disrepair, and also added a steeplechase course for jumpers.

WGY will have live coverage of the Whitney Stakes beginning at 5 PM.

You can also stream the race on our free iHeartRadio app.

Photo: Getty Images


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