With the Triple Crown season in the rear-view mirror, it’s time to move on and the focus for some familiar 3-year-olds shifts to the north. More specifically, the $1.25 million dollar Travers Stakes at Saratoga on August 27th. Here then, are five horses from the Triple Crown trail who can succeed in the 1 1/4 mile Travers. MO DONEGAL. He Won the Wood Memorial in April, … Continue reading Triple Crown To Travers Stakes
The Triple Crown racing series has been less than compelling for most fans this year. That said, think about all the possible storylines setting up for the Grade 1 Travers Stakes in August at Saratoga. Five horses could make the Travers the race of the year. RICH STRIKE, EARLY VOTING and EPICENTER are the most important 3-year-olds who might enter, because of their big Triple Crown efforts … Continue reading Could Be A Tantalizing Travers
When we preview races here at the Daily Racing Blog we often refer to the horses’ past performances and as such we indicate some of the races in which they have participated. Which for many of the upper echelon of horses means Graded Stakes races. We indicate those races as such; Travers Stakes (G1). But for those unfamiliar with the sport, the G1 probably doesn’t … Continue reading What Is A Graded Stakes race?
In an age when too many horses are either retired abruptly or are unable to retain their form, hard-nosed ESSENTIALLY QUALITY showed why he is standing the test of time, in the 152nd edition of the Travers Stakes. He became the 29th horse to complete the Belmont-Travers double. He stands as the first Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Winner to capture the Travers since STREET SENSE in … Continue reading ESSENTIAL Talent
The Travers Stakes is listed as race 12 on a marathon card of 13 at Saratoga Race Course, with a scheduled Post Time of 6:15. Here is a look at the field for tomorrow’s feature event. 1. MIDNIGHT BOURBON [ML 9-2] Trainer: Steve Asmussen. Jockey: Ricardo Santana Jr. In 10 career starts, he has hit the board in eight, with the exceptions coming in the Kentucky … Continue reading The Travers Stakes
Saturday is the Travers Stakes at Saratoga Race Course. It is by far the most popular day of the entire meet. It features six Grade 1, Stakes races, totaling 4.6 million dollars in purses. So perhaps a little background on the race itself is in order: THE NAME: When the Saratoga Racing Association named the Travers Stakes for William R. Travers (one of the founders … Continue reading Travers Tidbits
This Saturday at Saratoga Race Course, the $1.25 million dollar, Grade 1 Travers Stakes will be contested for the 152nd time. Some of North America’s fastest 3-year-old Thoroughbreds will have-at-it in the Mid-Summer Derby. The Travers is typically a tough race to handicap. But delving into the recent history of the race reveals trends and tendencies that past Winners have in common. These data-driven pearls of wisdom … Continue reading The Mid-Summer Derby
Nick Zito grew up near Aqueduct Racetrack. His father would take him to the track as a young lad. But back in the day there were age restrictions on admission to the track. So the elder Zito would leave young Nicholas with a friend of his, who just happened to be a security guard at the Big A. It was there and then that Zito … Continue reading A Classic New York Bred
Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez secured his 2,000th Win at Belmont Park in the 4th race on Friday when riding first-time starter MALATHAAT to a 1 3/4-length Victory for trainer Todd Pletcher and owner Shadwell Stable. The Win came in a seven-furlong Maiden special weight for juvenile fillies on the fast main track. MALATHAAT paid $3.70. The 48-year-old Velazquez, was inducted into the National … Continue reading Here’s Johnny !
Jack Knowlton is the head of Sackatoga Stables– the Saratoga, New York group that owns this years Travers, and Belmont Stakes Winner TIZ THE LAW. It was 17 years ago that this same group had Kentucky Derby, and Preakness Winner FUNNY CIDE– trained by Barclay Tagg, who happens to be the conditioner for TIZ THE LAW. Back in 2003 Tagg opted not to run FUNNY … Continue reading TIZ Twas Great !
