Not very often does a racehorse Win a marquee race that cements his credentials as a top contender for an Eclipse Award and then gets overshadowed in most of the post-race discussions. But that’s what’s happening with Travers Stakes Winner FIERCENESS. No doubt about it, THORPEDO ANNA was fearless in gutting out a 2nd place finish to FIERCENESS in the Mid-Summer Derby at Saratoga, and the … Continue reading What A Travers !
Saturday’s Travers Stakes drew a high-quality, competitive field of eight starters competing for a hefty $1.25 million purse along with the right to inscribe their name in the sport’s history. Here then, is a brief look at the field: 1. THORPEDO ANNA [ML 3-1] Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr. Trainer: Ken McPeek. This is a big test for the filly, but if you trust McPeek’s judgment that … Continue reading Who Wins The Travers Stakes ?
The focus of the horse racing world zeroes in on Saratoga Race Course Saturday for the 155th running of the Travers Stakes. It is the most prestigious race for 3-year-olds outside of the Triple Crown races in late spring and often is crucial in determining the year-end champion in that division. The Travers always serves as a major emphasis in the season for 3-year-olds, hence the nickname Mid-Summer Derby … Continue reading Travers Storylines Abound
Saturday is the Travers Stakes at Saratoga Race Course. It is by far the most popular day of the entire meet. It features five Grade 1, Stakes races, totaling over 5 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 of America’s oldest race course), they sought only to … Continue reading Travers Week Begins
Saturdays feature event at Saratoga is the 144th running of the Alabama Stakes. The prestigious stakes race for 3-year-old fillies is one of the oldest races for females in the United States. Its first edition took place in 1872 in a race Won by WOODBINE, a horse owned by August Belmont. The race itself was not precisely named in honor of the state of Alabama; rather, it was named after … Continue reading Sweet Home Alabama Stakes
The $1 million dollar, Grade 1 Whitney Stakes is Saturday at Saratoga Race Course, it is one of the marquee summertime races in U.S. horse racing. The 1 1/8-mile dirt race is a qualifier in the Win and You’re In Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series, giving the Winner an automatic berth to the $7 million dollar BC Classic on November 2nd at Del Mar. Here is a brief look at the full field … Continue reading Who Wins The Whitney ?
The million dollar, G1 Haskell Stakes is Saturday at Monmouth Park. Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher had said that he would enter three of his horses in the mile & 1/8th contest. And today he did just that by submitting FIERCENESS, MINDFRAME and TUSCAN SKY to compete in the signature race at Monmouth. The question is, how many of them actually take the trip … Continue reading Decisions, Decisions
Opening week at Saratoga Race Course was fraught with exhaustive heat and humidity. But despite that and Thursday’s races being off turf the four day opening week at The Spa was a good one. There was a beefy 18.3% increase in all-sources handle for the first four days of racing at Saratoga. In addition, more total races were run and fewer races taken off the … Continue reading Good Opening Week At The Spa
Saratoga Race Course is known for its terrific 2-year-old racing, and all of the big barns plus some of the smaller stables with a nice juvenile or two target the meeting in upstate New York. And fans of baby racing aren’t waiting long as 2-year-old action swings into high gear with the Grade 3 Sanford Stakes on Saturday. The Sanford is one of three featured Stakes on … Continue reading Who Wins The Sanford Stakes ?
The Belmont Stakes at Saratoga was by all accounts very successful and adds another tier to the storied history of The Spa. In S.P.A.C. speak that means the warm-up act is over, it’s time for the headliner to take the stage. The 40-day racing season, the 156th since the first meet was staged in 1863, commences Thursday with an 11-race program at Saratoga Race Course, … Continue reading Riders Up @ Saratoga
