Junior Alvarado has tasted Whitney’s victory before. The 36-year-old racer won the Whitney Stakes (G1) in 2014 with Moreno.
He will try to make another trip to the winner’s circle at Racecourse Saratoga when he rides the formidable animal Olympiad in the 95th run of the prestigious $1 million race on August 6. Olympiad, a 4-year-old son of Sightstown is the 2-1 morning second choice in the six-horse field. Life is good is my favorite line in the morning 6-5.
The Olympiad has won all five of his starts this year, four of which have been qualifying races. Alvarado is the pilot in all of them.
“It’s amazing how after every race he has become a real man,” Alvarado said. “He improves every time he goes out.”
Alvarado raced the Olympiad in his first two starts when he made his debut at the age of 2 in Saratoga in 2020. The first time he ran, on August 1, the Olympiad finished third.
“I knew he was playing pretty well the first time I rode him,” said Alvarado. “After that race, I told Bill (Mott, Hall of Fame coach) that I thought this guy would be the real one.”
The Olympiad needs some time in its 3-year-old season and has only raced three times, the first being in September. Alvarado missed two of those three races, including a fourth in the Cigar Mile presented by NYRA Bets (G1) at Aqueduct race track on December 4th.
After that, Alvarado decided not to miss this ride again.
Alvarado said: “I have to keep this mount. “I kept asking about him.”
The Olympiad has won its five starts this year with a total length of 16 1/4. In his most recent start, he won Stephen Foster Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs 2 1/4 of the length.
Now is the biggest test of his career. Alvarado can’t wait for the opportunity
“Certainly,” said Alvarado. “Winning the Whitney again would be very satisfying for me and my career.”
