In The Money Telegraph
Saturday, August 8, 2026 · By ITM Staff
Whitney Day Is Here
The wait is over. The 99th running of the Grade 1, $1 million Whitney anchors a four-Grade-1 Saturday at Saratoga and doubles as a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Classic. It brings back the top four from the Stephen Foster — unbeaten morning-line favorite Magnitude for Steve Asmussen, 2025 Horse of the Year Sovereignty looking for a signature win at four, the fast-closing Baeza, and 2023 winner White Abarrio — plus the champion filly Nitrogen, who demolished the Ogden Phipps by nearly 13 lengths over this track and now takes on the boys. Nitrogen bids to become the first filly or mare to win the Whitney since Personal Ensign in 1988, and just the seventh ever. PTF and Nick Tammaro went through the entire Whitney Day card; PTF lands on Baeza and JK on Sovereignty — a Bill Mott exacta for team ITM.
There’s a poignant thread running through the day, too. Saturday is Hall of Fame induction day at Saratoga, and among those being honored posthumously are trainer John Shirreffs and Miguel Clement. Shirreffs, who died in February, sent out Zenyatta and 2005 Derby winner Giacomo across a remarkable career; Baeza, one of his final good horses, runs the Whitney now for Bill Mott but carries that legacy into the gate. It’s a bittersweet note on a big afternoon, and one worth pausing on.
The Future Stars: Baby Talk
Whitney Day isn’t only about the older horses. Saratoga cards four two-year-old races on Saturday, and last year’s edition of this same spot produced Ted Noffey — so these baby races are worth your attention, not an afterthought (the first goes at 11:45 a.m. ET). PTF sat down with Keeneland Sales’ Dean Roethemeier for the latest Baby Talk, going through the juvenile lineup, the pedigrees, and the sales backgrounds — including a look ahead to the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, whose catalog drops next week.
Around the Board: Coast to Coast
Wherever you’re playing on this loaded Saturday, the ITM team has the card. Here’s the full slate of written analysis:
Monmouth Park — Eric Solomon has the full Saturday card, with the $100,000 Oceanport Stakes the feature; he leans to Cruise the Nile. Monmouth’s first post is 12:50 p.m. ET. Read Eric’s Monmouth card →
Del Mar — Dean Keppler goes through the whole card, with his best bet the class-dropping Ima Track Star in Race 5. Read Dean’s Del Mar card →
Colonial Downs — Michael Domabyl serves up his spot plays, led by Yes Chef at 4-1 or better in the opener, with the Shenandoah Stakes the co-feature. Read Michael’s Colonial card →
Woodbine — Mikee P and Ray Cotolo go through the north-of-the-border action, with the restricted Bison City Stakes and a late Pick 4 sequence in focus ahead of next week’s King’s Plate. Watch the Woodbine preview →
UK & Europe — Steven Bonnick previews the weekend across the pond, headlined by the always-lively Shergar Cup at Ascot, plus Group 1 action in Ireland and France on Sunday. Read Steven’s UK & Europe preview →
Two More for the Day
If you’re near the Jersey Shore, the $500 Whitney Day Monmouth/Saratoga contest runs today — you’ll need a minimum of $50 across at least five races, with all eight Monmouth races and all 14 at Saratoga eligible.
And harness racing has its biggest day of the year: the $1 million Hambletonian (4:51 p.m. ET) and the $500,000 Hambletonian Oaks (3:36 p.m. ET) at the Meadowlands — and remember, the money pays just the same as it does on the flat. The Hambo shapes up as a three-horse showdown among Big Ranger, Apex and Endurance, with a $125,000 guaranteed Pick 4 (starting in Race 8) spanning both features. PTF brought in Ray Cotolo and Mikee P for a quick guide built for flat players: watch the Hambo preview →
Want the deep dive? Cotolo and Mikee P hosted a full live handicapping roundtable with Garnet Barnsdale and Diamond Creek’s Shaun Laungani, going race by race through the whole card. Watch the full Hambletonian roundtable →
ITM Plus
Nick’s Notebook, (Almost) Every Day of the Meet
ITM Plus members get Nick Tammaro’s Saratoga notebook every morning — detailed written selections, a play of the day, exclusive podcasts, and the members’ bet share, right through Whitney Day and on to the Breeders’ Cup.
Enjoy Whitney Day, and may you win all your photos. More all weekend at inthemoneypodcast.com and on the ITM YouTube channel.
