Travers is anybody’s race
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The countdown to Saturday’s $1 million Travers Stakes has begun, and one thing is for sure: The 1 1/4 -mile “Midsummer Derby” will have a surprise result.
That’s because none of this year’s 3-year-old colts has stepped forward to take control of the division by winning more than one Grade 1 or Grade 2 race. So if one of the favorites — Jim Dandy winner Stay Thirsty, Preakness winner Shackleford, Haskell winner Coil, or Belmont Stakes winner Ruler On Ice — does win the Travers, he will do something no 3-year-old has done all year.
On the other hand, if one of those fearsome foursome doesn’t win, then the horse that does — JW Blue, Moonshine Mullin, Raison d’Etat, Rattlesnake Bridge, Arthur’s Tale or Bowman’s Causeway (the last two are not definite starters) — will add another head-shaking upset to the string of surprises that have categorized this year’s 3-year-old stakes schedule.
Coil, seeking to duplicate his sire Point Given’s Travers victory in 2001, is an iffy starter. Trainer Bob Baffert said he is “training great and trying to make the race,” but Coil is battling an eye infection and might have to await the Pennsylvania Derby on Sept. 24.
Shackleford is a tenacious colt who, in addition to winning the Preakness, was second in the Florida Derby, fourth in the Kentucky Derby, fifth in the Belmont Stakes and second in the Haskell, beaten by a neck while giving Coil four pounds. In the Travers, all starters carry 126 pounds.
Yesterday, with jockey Jesus Castanon up, Shackleford breezed five furlongs in 1:00.87 over the main track here, galloping out six in 1:14.40.
“We just wanted him to break off nice and easy and finish strong,” trainer Dale Romans said. “He finished great and galloped out really good.
“The track has been a bit different this year than in years past, but this horse has seemed to really like it. We did a lot with him last week to make sure he’s fit enough for this track, and I’m glad we did. The more he does, the better he gets.”
Ruler On Ice, third in the Haskell making his first start since he upset the Belmont at 24-1, breezed four furlongs in :48 3/5 yesterday at Monmouth Park. At Saratoga, Bowman’s Causeway worked five furlongs in 1:00.05. At Woodbine, Moonshine Mullin went five in 1:00 3/5.
* The Saratoga jockeys will move their competition from the racetrack to the microphone tomorrow night at the Vapor night club, located at the Saratoga Casino and Raceway, for a night of jockey karaoke, dinner and dancing to benefit the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund.
Tickets for the evening of hilarity, which runs from 6-11 p.m. and includes a buffet dinner and cash bar, are $100 and can be purchased at http://www.pdjf.com or by phone at (630) 234-6691, with a limited number available at the door.
