Tom Pedulla offers takeaways from the $1 million, Grade 1 Whitney Stakes and the $500,000, Grade 1 Test Stakes Presented by Ticketmaster at Saratoga Race Course, the $400,000, Grade 1 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes Presented by Oak Tree Racing Association at Del Mar and other major developments this weekend. The Whitney carried an automatic berth in the $7 million Longines Breeders Cup Classic. The Hirsch winner is ensured a spot in the starting gate for the $2 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff. The Classic and Distaff will be contested Nov. 2 at Del Mar.

 FITTING TRIBUTE: It was an emotional scene in the winner’s circle after Arthur’s Ride coasted from gate to wire to capture the Whitney. Karl Glassman of Glassman Racing explained that the 4-year-old Tapit colt is named after his father, who died a year and a half ago at age 91. When the dying man was told of the tribute to him, he said, “You didn’t have to do that.” The son responded, “Dad, I really did. You had a great ride.” The father agreed that he had led a full life. Arthur’s Ride must be viewed as a major contender in the Classic after the way he handled nine opponents in the Whitney in his first graded stakes race.

Ways and Means (Eclipse Sportswire)

ONE-TURN STAR: Klaravich Stables’ homebred Ways and Means confirmed trainer Chad Brown’s belief that she is at her best when she is kept to one turn by winning the seven-furlong Test Stakes. Brown will next target the Nov. 2 PNC Bank Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint with one prep race still to be determined ahead of that. “She runs so fast and hard. I don’t think she needs to run much between now and then,” he said. The Test marked the first Grade 1 victory for the 3-year-old daughter of Practical Joke. She will need to step up her game in the Breeders’ Cup because she will be facing older horses.

Hernandez and Adare Manor. (Eclipse Sportswire)

NO STOPPING HER: Michael Lund Petersen’s Adare Manor worked her way through tight quarters on the far turn and successfully defended her title in the Clement L. Hirsch, dispatching Scylla by 2 ¾ lengths for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert and jockey Juan Hernandez. The 5-year-old daughter of Uncle Mo, in winning for the 10^th time in 18 tries, increased her bankroll to $2,096,600. “I rode her with a lot of confidence. She was running with a lot of confidence,” Hernandez said. “We made our way through that little bit of trouble we had and she was off and running. She is one of the best fillies I’ve ever ridden.”

CONGRATULATIONS: The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame welcomed nine new inductees Friday. Jockey Joel Rosario, 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify and 2017 Horse of the Year Gun Runner comprised the contemporary category. Jockey Abe Hawkins and racehorses Aristides and Lecomte were selected by the pre-1900 Historic Review Committee. Harry F. Guggenheim, Clement L. Hirsch and Joe Hirsch were honored as Pillars of the Turf. Rosario, a winner of more than 3,600 races with earnings surpassing $322 million, is the first jockey to be enshrined from the Dominican Republic. “I never thought growing up in the Dominican Republic, playing baseball and riding my horse really quickly to the grocery store that I would be a Hall of Fame jockey,” he said.

The ‘Thorpedo’ at the Spa. (Susie Raisher/NYRA)

ON TRACK: Star filly Thorpedo Anna continues to prepare for the massive challenge ahead, when she takes on the boys in the Aug. 24 DraftKings Travers Stakes at the Spa. She worked four furlongs on Saratoga’s Oklahoma training track Friday morning with ageless exercise rider Danny Ramsey aboard. Although the drill could not be timed due to a dense fog, trainer Kenny McPeek liked what he was able to observe. “It was a nice and easy half mile, nothing fancy. All I could see was coming up to the wire and out, but it was all good,” said McPeek, adding, “We just let her feel good and do what she feels like doing.” Lady Rotha was the last filly to win the Travers, in 1915.