The Travers Stakes will be truly living up to its nickname of The Midsummer Derby this year.
As part of a revamped Saratoga Race Course schedule, the 1 1/4-mile Travers has been moved up three weeks to an August 8th date while still retaining the one million dollar purse as an enticement to on-the-fence entrants.
The Travers is usually held on the final Saturday in August, but a change became necessary when the Kentucky Derby was switched to September 5th due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This seems to be a perfect fit for Belmont Stakes Winner TIZ THE LAW. The seven week gap between the first leg of the Triple Crown and the Travers is an ideal set-up.
Jack Knowlton, managing partner of the group that owns TIZ THE LAW: “We plotted out that course long ago, going back to after he Won the Champagne Stakes. Obviously the order changed, but the Travers has always been one of the races we would point for if TIZ THE LAW could take us there.”
The Travers, one of the year’s premier stakes for 3-year-olds, will top a card that day which includes two $300,000 dollar, seven-furlong Grade 1 stakes, the Ballerina Handicap for fillies and mares and the Test Stakes for 3-year-old fillies.
Also on that card will be the $200,000 dollar Troy Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs on the turf and the $150,000 Waya Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/2 miles on the turf.
So while The Summer Place To Be may be adorned with asterisks and caveats, it is comforting to know that certain racing traditions (albeit juggled) manage to carry-on.
Be sure to stop back on Friday when the Daily Racing Blog will take a look at our Race Of The Week.
We Just missed (a nose) last week with our top, upset pick NY TRAFFIC in the Haskill Stakes at Monmouth Park.
