Street Cry a gallant second in Saratoga

Godolphin's Street Cry, widely regarded as the best older horse in America, saw his reputation take a beating when he suffered his first defeat of the year in Saturday's 75th running of the Grade 1 Whitney Handicap at Saratoga Race Course.

The four-year-old Dubai World Cup winner was beaten a length and a half by the Irish-owned Left Bank, who was in receipt of 5lb from the runner-up.

Left Bank, winner of the Grade 1 Cigar Mile Handicap at Aqueduct last November, saved his best performance for one of horse racing's grandest arenas to make his own case for Horse of the Year.

The nine-furlong contest was run at a blistering pace set by Saint Verre with Left Bank, Street Cry and Lido Palace in hot pursuit.

Turning for home Left Bank closed under jockey John Velazquez closely attended by Jorge Chavez on defending champion Lido Palace.

At the half mile mark Jerry Bailey asked Street Cry for his effort and the Machivellian colt responded with a spirited run but failed to collar the winner who went on to win in a course record-equalling time of 1minute 47.04seconds for the distance.

"I was very disappointed with this race because he trained so well coming up to it," said trainer Saeed bin Suroor. "There was a good pace to set up for him. I was happy with the ride Jerry (Bailey) gave him.

"But the horse just didn't look happy. I could tell in the last two furlongs that he was not going to win. He seemed okay after the race, but we'll have to see how he comes out before making a decision on his next race. It's racing, we understand these things happen."

Godolphin Racing Manager Simon Crisford said on the stable's website: "Street Cry ran a very solid race - it was a very big effort but it just wasn't his day."

Left Bank, who is owned by Ireland's Michael Tabor, crossed the $1 million mark in career earnings with his Whitney victory, and improved his overall record to 14-2-0 from 24 career starts.

"Some races are bigger than others, and we've been excited about trying this one for awhile," said winning trainer Todd Pletcher on the New York Racing Association website. "When it works out, there is a little extra gratification."

Pletcher plans to run Left Bank in Belmont Park's Grade 1, $500,000 Whitney at nine furlongs on September 7 and then complete his run in Belmont Park's Fall Championship Meet in the Grade 1, $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup at a mile and a quarter on September 28.

If the plan stays intact, Left Bank will then head to Arlington Park for the Breeders' Cup Classic on October 26.

Several factors contributed to Left Bank's victory, but perhaps none more than rain on Friday that cancelled that day's turf races and rendered the dirt track quick.

No one, however, was happier than Pletcher with the way the race panned out.

"I was concerned about the distance against this quality of horses," he confessed. "This was the best group of horses put together all year. Now, it is great that Saint Verre was in there. The race set up for everybody and nobody had an excuse. I think the best horse won."

Result:
Whitney Handicap (Grade 1) (Dirt)
For 3yo+ Purse $750,000 (1m1f):
1) Left Bank (Todd Pletcher) John Velazquez; 2) Street Cry (Saeed bin Suroor) Jerry Bailey; 3) Lido Palace (Robert J. Frankel ) Jorge Chavez; 4) Macho Uno (Joseph F. Orseno) Pat Day
Distances: 1 ¼, nose, 1½
Winning time: 1:47.04