Road to the Breeders’ Cup: Sneak Peek at Whitney, Clement Hirsch, and Other Stakes

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The first week of August hosts three important races that are part of the Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” Challenge Series. At Saratoga, the 96^th running of the Whitney Stakes will go on Saturday, Aug. 5, and is a qualifier for the Nov. 4 Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita Park. Later that evening at Del Mar, leading dirt fillies and mares will compete in the 53^rd Clement L. Hirsch Stakes, offering an automatic berth to the Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff on Nov. 4 at Santa Anita.

Horse of the Year Gun Runner won the 2017 Whitney Stakes at Saratoga by 5 ¼ lengths despite carrying a loose horseshoe entangled in his tail. (Eclipse Sportswire)

Read the full story by Patrick Reed here.