Saratoga Springs, NY (My Sportsbook) - Bullsbay, the longest shot on the board, charged to victory Saturday in the $750,000 Whitney Handicap at Saratoga Race Course. Ridden by Jeremy Rose, Bullsbay covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.12 on a fast track.
The Whitney is a "Win and You're In" race, giving Bullsbay guaranteed entry into the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita Park this fall.
The six horse field was led for most of the race by defending champion Commentator, who also won the event in 2005. Pressing the pace was Smooth Air and Tizway. The rest of the field, including 18-1 Bullsbay, was racing as many as 10-lengths off the leaders.
Commentator and jockey John Velazquez had the lead around the turn for home, as Bullsbay began his drive along the rail. Rose and his mount split rivals on the turn and moved to the outside at the top of the stretch.
Trained by Graham Motion, Bullsbay surged to the front and opened his lead down the stretch. The five-year-old hit the wire 1 1/2-lengths in front of runner-up Macho Again with pre-race favorite Commentator finishing third.
Completing the order of finish was Tizway, Dry Martini and Smooth Air. Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin was forced to scratch Asiatic Boy from the Whitney after the six-year-old developed a fever Friday afternoon.
Bullsbay is owned by Mitchell Ranch and recorded his seventh career win in 18 starts. The $450,000 for Saturday's win puts his career earnings at $810,943.
In his last race, Bullsbay was 10th in the Hollywood Gold Cup after finishing a close fourth in the Stephen Foster at Churchill Downs. This year, he won the Johnson Memorial Handicap and Alysheba Stakes.
Bullsbay returned $39.60, $12.00 and $5.90. Macho Again paid $4.90 and $3.40, and Commentator paid $3.20 to show.