Sultry Song Wins Whitney Handicap

Sultry Song, sixth in Belmont’s Suburban Handicap in his last outing, defeated Out Of Place by a nose to win Saratoga’s $250,000 Whitney Handicap on Saturday.

Sultry Song, winner of the Hollywood Gold Cup earlier in the summer, went 1 1/8 miles in 1:47 1/5, one-fifth slower than the track record set by Tri Jet in 1974.

“The race went pretty much like we figured it,” jockey Jerry Bailey said. “There would be three speed horses out front, and we’d be laying fourth or fifth. He stayed in good position and ran a game race. He might have gotten a little tired at the end, but he’d been off for a while.”

The victory was the second in five starts this year for Sultry Song, who paid $8.80, $4.60 and $4.40. Out Of Place returned $4 and $3.60, and Chief Honcho paid $7.

Strike The Gold, the betting favorite, was fifth, behind Lost Mountain. Completing the order of finish were Killer Diller, Key Contender, Sunny Sunrise and Loach.

Earlier on the program, Roman Envoy, ridden by Craig Perret, scored a half-length victory over Lotus Pool in the $158,000 Saratoga Budweiser Breeders’ Cup.

Lotus Pool, under Pat Day, was 1 3/4 lengths ahead of Daarik in the field of 10.

Roman Envoy covered 1 1/16 miles on turf in 1:41 2/5 and returned $13.20, $6.40 and $3.80. Lotus Pool paid $4.60 and $3.40, and Daarik returned $3.20.