MOUNTAINEER - SATURDAY

10.21 West Virginia Derby (Grade 2) $750,000; 3yo 1 1/8 Miles

Suddenbreakingnews and Cupid, among the better three-year-olds of the season so far, line up in this Grade 2. The Tabor/Magnier/Smith owned Cupid won the Rebel before disappointing in the Arkansas Derby and then got back on track in the Indiana Derby last time. Suddenbreakingnews won well in Oaklawn early in the campaign and finished second in the Arkansas Derby to Belmont winner Creator. He finished well to take fifth in the Kentucky Derby, behind Nyquist, but then made little show in the Belmont, finishing ninth.

Selection: Cupid

Next best: Economic Model

10.02 Test Stakes (Grade 1) $500,000; 3yo fillies 7F

The Newtown Anner Stud & J Stables owned Off The Tracks bids for her second Grade 1 win in the Test. The daughter of Curlin, trained by Todd Pletcher, won the Mother Goose at Belmont last month, easily from tonight’s rival Lewis Bay, and is among the top three-year-old fillies on the east coast. Her opposition is likely to come from the Kiaran McLaughlin-trained Kareena, owned by Godolphin.

Selection: Off The Tracks Next best: Kareena

11.18 Whitney Stakes (Grade 1) $1,250,000; 3yo+ 1m 1f

Saratoga’s top older-horse contest of the summer, the Grade 1 Whitney Stakes is the highlight of this weekend’s card. Frosted is a short price in small field as he attempts to follow-up his 14-length win in the Met Mile at Belmont, one of the performances of the season so far. Despite its $1.25 million prize money, the Whitney Stakes drew only a six-horse field. Frosted’s presence may have something to do with that. Despite disappointing in Dubai, he has looked the top older horse in the US this season.

Upstart had looked good in Oaklawn in the spring but has been well-beaten by Frosted subsequently. Effinex has been kept busy by trainer Jimmy Jerkins and makes his fourth consecutive appearance of the season in a Grade 1. He has won the Oaklawn and the Suburban Handicaps this season, was sixth in the Stephen Foster and third in the Santa Anita Handicap. Mark Casse’s Noble Bird won the Stephen Foster last year but his recent form is not up to this level.

Selection: Frosted

Next best: Upstart

REST OF THE CARD

There are a number of graded races on the card, with many Irish-breds in competition.

European raced Ectot (Al Shaqab) and Full Mast (Juddmonte) line up in the Fasig-Tipton Lure Stakes. The Fasig-Tipton Waya Stakes for fillies over a mile and a half has Photo Call and Achnaha (by Haatef) - along with the former French-trained Ball Dancing, a Grade 1 winner last year. The Fasig-Tipton De La Rose Stakes has Chad Brown’s Roca Rojo (by Strategic Prince), Lady Lara (Excellent Art) and Akatea (Shamardal) in the line-up.