1987 Whitney Handicap

Java Gold, the 3-year-old who missed the Triple Crown but still might turn out to be the best of his crop, ran down Gulch in the deep stretch to win the $288,500 Whitney Handicap today before the largest crowd in the history of Saratoga Race Track. Java Gold's victory, the most important and impressive of his career, set up a dramatic showdown in the Travers Stakes here Aug. 22. Java Gold will challenge Bet Twice, the Belmont Stakes and Haskell Handicap winner, and Alysheba, the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner, for the 3-year-old championship. Java Gold, second choice in the betting to Broad Brush today, looked hopelessly beaten with a furlong to go after Gulch had slipped through on the rail to open a clear lead. But Java Gold, who had fallen back to sixth entering the turn, rallied relentlessly, making up 3 1/2 lengths in the final furlong to win by three-quarters of a length. http://www.nytimes.com/1987/08/09/spo...