Whitney Stakes Participants, Horses, Betting Odds, and Forecasts for 2025
The 98th running of the Whitney Stakes took place this past Saturday at Saratoga, with an impressive field of top older horses competing for the prestigious title. John Velazquez guided Sierra Leone to victory, rallying from last place to capture the win in a thrilling race.
Sierra Leone, the winner of the 2024 Breeders' Cup Classic, was an entry in the Whitney Stakes and faced strong competition from the likes of Fierceness, White Abarrio, and several other contenders. The race was a "win and in" event for 4-year-olds and up looking ahead to the Nov. 1 Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar.
Predictions leading up to the race had focused on the trio of Sierra Leone, Fierceness, and White Abarrio, with betting odds favoring Sierra Leone (2-1) and Fierceness (9/5). Sierra Leone's strong closing finish lived up to expectations, as he was expected to benefit from a swift early pace set by longshots like Mama’s Gold and the presence of a pacesetter for Sierra Leone's stablemate.
Fierceness, trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, had entered the race as the favourite, having won the Alysheba during Kentucky Derby weekend and boasting three career wins, including the 2024 Jim Dandy and Travers. Irad Ortiz Jr. was in the saddle for Fierceness, but it was Velazquez and Sierra Leone who came out on top.
Other contenders in the race included Skippylongstocking, who had won the G2 Hollywood Gold Cup, Mindframe, who had won the G1 Stephen Foster, and Contrary Thinking, who won an allowance race in June and is a good breaker from the gate.
Handicapper analyses and betting strategies had emphasized the rivalry and the tactical speed and deep closing running styles of the top three horses. However, it was Sierra Leone who proved to be the most impressive, rallying from behind to take the win.
Chad Brown and Peter Brant, who own a piece of Sierra Leone, may have had a strategic advantage in the race, as they also entered Contrary Thinking. Contrary Thinking, ridden by Dylan Davis, was used to set a fast pace for Sierra Leone, giving him an advantageous position for his late closing kick.
Post Time, the third-place finisher in last year's Whitney, was another entry in the race, and he has taken to the distance as he's aged, with three wins in races longer than a mile this year. The husband and wife team of Sheldon and Brittany Russell will run it back with Post Time, hoping to improve on their third-place finish from last year.
White Abarrio, who had won the Pegasus World Cup and the G3 Ghostzapper this year, was another contender in the race. However, he ran a disappointing fourth in the Met Mile at Saratoga, which may have affected his chances in the Whitney. Irad Ortiz Jr. had the ride on White Abarrio.
Mama's Gold, a six-time career winner, was also an entry in the Whitney Stakes, but has not won a graded stakes race. Highland Falls (AlwOC) was another entry, having won an allowance race at Aqueduct recently.
In summary, Sierra Leone won the 2025 Whitney Stakes in a thrilling race, confirming the pre-race expectations about his strength over Fierceness and White Abarrio. The race was a fast-paced competitive event at Saratoga, with Chad Brown and Peter Brant possibly using strategic entries to give Sierra Leone an advantageous pace. The winners of the Whitney Stakes will now look ahead to the Nov. 1 Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar.
Sports betting enthusiasts eagerly followed the Whitney Stakes, as odds for contenders like Sierra Leone (2-1) and Fierceness (9/5) were the center of attention. The race, a "win and in" event for older horses, saw a thrilling victory by Sierra Leone in the 2-length margin, despite fierce competition from horse-racing contenders such as Fierceness, White Abarrio, and several others.
