Whitney round five between Sierra Leone, Fierceness

Sierra Leone and Fierceness will have a fifth meeting in their rivalry, but their first this year, in the $1 million Whitney (G1) at Saratoga, which anchors a blockbuster 13-race program on Saturday.

The two stars have finished ahead of the other twice before, with Fierceness having had the edge at Saratoga. Fierceness captured the Jim Dandy (G2) over the Whitney's 1 1/8-mile distance, and the Travers (G1) last summer, but Sierra Leone's narrow loss in the Kentucky Derby (G1) and straight-up win over Fierceness in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Del Mar propelled him to championship honors.

However, Fierceness has enjoyed a bit more success this term, taking the Alysheba (G2) at Churchill Downs in track record time before finishing second to the now-retired Raging Torrent in the Metropolitan H. (G1). Sierra Leone, meanwhile, settled for third in the New Orleans Classic (G2) and second in the Stephen Foster (G1). Mindframe, the Stephen Foster winner, was entered in the Whitney but is not expected to run.

Given he's been more effective over a mile and a quarter, Sierra Leone will get the services of a pacemaker, allowance winner Contrary Thinking.

"Hopefully, the race sets up for him. He's run some good numbers here and just come up a little short," trainer Chad Brown said of Sierra Leone. "His end results have been better at other racetracks, but I don't think he hates this track. We'll see how the track is playing Saturday, and if it's playing fairly and the pace is fair, I think he has a good shot."

White Abarrio was an explosive winner of the 2023 Whitney, which preceded a victory in the Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita. He looked as good as ever in January when taking the Pegasus World Cup (G1) by more than six lengths, but he has lacked the same punch when beating overmatched rivals in the Ghostzapper (G3) and finishing a troubled fourth in the Met Mile over the slop.

Another Saffie Joseph Jr. trainee is Skippylongstocking, last-out winner of the Hollywood Gold Cup (G2). Although victorious in several Grade 2 affairs, the six-year-old has consistently fallen short at the highest level.

Other Whitney notables include Highland Falls, the 2024 Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) scorer who easily won a one-mile Aqueduct allowance in late June, his first race since finishing far up the track in the Breeders' Cup Classic last November. The Maryland-based Post Time finished third to Arthur's Ride in last year's Whitney, but arguably would be a stronger fit in one-turn races at this level.

The Whitney winner will receive an expenses-paid berth to the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Del Mar in November.

The once-beaten Echo Sound goes in search of her third consecutive graded stakes tally in the $500,000 Test (G1), a seven-furlong dash for three-year-old fillies.

Victorious in three of four starts last season, including the Myrtlewood S. at Keeneland, the Rusty Arnold-trained Echo Sound has kicked off her sophomore campaign with back-to-back scores in the Miss Preakness (G3) and Victory Ride (G2), the latter by a widening 4 1/4 lengths.

Arnold will also saddle Kilwin, who captured her dirt debut at Churchill Downs in the June 8 Leslie's Lady S. Eight Belles (G2) heroine Look Forward, meanwhile, shortens up to a preferred one-mile trip after finishing second to La Cara in the 1 1/8-mile Acorn (G1).

Bob Baffert ships Summertime Oaks (G2) winner Cash Call in from California, while stakes newcomer Ragtime has impressively won twice at Saratoga in recent months.

The aptly-named Obliteration, who won his first two starts by a combined margin of 18 lengths, including the Sanford (G3), looms the colt to beat in the $200,000 Saratoga Special (G2) over 6 1/2 furlongs.

"His maiden win was very impressive, and what's made it even more impressive is the couple of winners that have come out of it since," trainer Steve Asmussen said, referring to next-out winners Curtain Call and Clocker Special, who finished second and third, respectively. “The Sanford -- he looked like we were hoping he would."

Ewing, a son of 2021 Horse of the Year Knicks Go and a 12-length debut winner in his own right, drew the inside post. Bashford Manor S. runner-up Comport looks best of the remainder.