Silver State enters the $1 million Whitney Stakes (G1) off six straight wins punctuated by a clear victory in the Hill 'N' Dale Metropolitan Handicap (G1) June 5 at Belmont Park but the 4-year-old son of Hard Spun is the race's 4-1 third-choice on the morning-line, which says something about the quality of the select group entered.
It also serves as a reminder that while some of this year's top older horses have delivered some top performances, there also are questions as these horses begin their drive toward the Breeders' Cup.
The Whitney is the lone Breeders' Cup Challenge race on this weekend's schedule. It awards a fees-paid berth in the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1).
As for those questions ...
After a pair of fourth-place finishes in the Met Mile and Saudi Cup (G1), Knicks Go got some class relief and responded with a 10 1/4-length victory in the Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Handicap (G3) July 2. The question will be if the son of Paynter can build on that as he returns to the grade 1 level. He's done it before. Last year's Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) winner opened the year with a 2 3/4-length victory in the 1 1/8-mile Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) victory at Gulfstream Park.
Trainer Brad Cox believes front-running Knicks Go is better racing around two turns than one. His fourth-place finishes this year were at one turn.
"It gave us the confidence to try the Whitney," said trainer Brad Cox of the Cornhusker. "The race solidified that the horse needs two turns, which he'll get in the Whitney. We're excited about getting him back in the grade 1 ranks going around two turns."
Maxfield has won seven of eight career starts and has looked like a top horse in many of those victories. But the 4-year-old son of Street Sense has not earned a grade 1 win since his juvenile season and settled for third earlier this year as the 6-5 favorite in the Santa Anita Handicap (G1). Trainer Brendan Walsh likes that Maxfield has been able to stay on schedule this season as his four 2021 starts are already the most of any of the colt's three seasons of racing.
For Silver State, the question appears to be distance. While the son of Hard Spun won this year's Oaklawn Handicap (G2) at 1 1/8 miles, it marked his first win in three tries at 1 1/8 miles or longer. A seventh straight win Saturday would vault Silver State to the top of the handicap division.
"He's won six in a row," said trainer Steve Asmussen. "The Whitney will establish the leader of the division. I have nothing but respect for who's in it, but we're very fortunate to have a horse as good as Silver State to run in it."
Last year's Preakness Stakes (G1)-winning filly Swiss Skydiver is scheduled to make her first start since April as her connections again consider their Breeders' Cup options of the Longines Distaff (G1) or Classic. By My Standards , who certainly is capable based on his runner-up finishes in last year's Whitney and this year's Met Mile, will try to break through for his first grade 1 win.
After watching some top 3-year-old males appear to be moving forward in races like the TVG.com Haskell Stakes (G1) and Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) in recent weeks, the Whitney figures to be an intriguing test of older horses as the Challenge season heats up and the 2021 Breeders' Cup Classic field begins to take shape.
