The 2011 TRAVERS STAKES....and other 3 year old stuff!

At the beginning of the three year old campaign in January, there was only one colt that was on everybody's mind. His name was Uncle Mo, and many thought that he would be the superstar of 2011 and quite possibly be the "next" Triple Crown champion. His juvenile campaign was the best in years and no other two year old matched up to him. But, like how the racing game changes......so do horses going from one year to another.

Uncle Mo's three year old season came to a screeching halt. A liver aliment right after his dull Wood Memorial effort took him off the Derby Trail and put on the shelf for the entire spring into the summer. The overall class of this year's three year old group took a major hit when he was gone. Wide open; horses like Animal Kingdom, Shackleford and Ruler On Ice came to the forefront with victories in the Triple Crown races. All these horses were longshot winners and after the Belmont Stakes, many thought the class of 2011 was mediocre at best.

But, new faces like Coil came on to the seen and the sprinter three year old group showed promise and overshadowed the classic distance runners. While in most year's the attrition from the Triple Crown trail takes a toll on the sophomore runners, this year many have made it this far and even though no one has taking a leadership role, the group assembled here for today two three year old races is quite good.

Between today's King's Bishop Stakes for the three year old sprinters going seven furlongs and the Travers Stakes for horses with Breeder's Cup Classic aspirations, we get the "cream of the crop" of best three year old runners. Only lacking; Animal Kingdom, Nehro and The Factor (who is racing on the west coast this weekend) we get all the major players.

In the King's Bishop Stakes, horses that didn't fare well stretching out in route distances along the Triple Crown trail have turned back in distance today and some have had success in doing so. Flashpoint, Caleb's Posse, Dominus and now possibly Runflatout have become better horses since finding their best distance. These horses today now face, Uncle Mo; who himself is on the comeback trail and returning sprinting for bigger things down the road. These horses didn't pan out on the Triple Crown trail, but found their niche here.

While Uncle Mo will try to prove himself again, another ten three year old colts will try to make their mark "going the distance" and look for possible year end honors. The usual suspects have made it this far, only lacking the Kentucky Derby winner; Animal Kingdom, Shackleford (Preakness winner) Rule On Ice (Belmont Stakes winner) Stay Thristy (Jim Dandy winner) and Coil (Haskell Stakes winner) are all here for this year's Mid-Summer's Derby. There are six "new shooters" trying to make a name for themselves too in the race today. Once what was thought to be a lack luster group has become quite an intriguing bunch of horses.

With the return of Uncle Mo and a three year old championship most liking on the line today in the Travers, all is forgiven by me when I stated that this group of three year old wasn't very good right after the Belmont Stakes. They have come together and hopefully will stick around the remainder of this year and more importantly, next year as older horses. Saratoga brings out the best in racing and this year brings together a pretty good bunch of three year old horses!

THE SELECTIONS......

Stay Thirsty (#9) Castellano / Pletcher (5-2)

Here is the Repole Stables runner.....who; broke his maiden "before" his much heralded stablemate here at Saratoga, who.....won a graded early season stake "before" that well touted stablemate, who.....raced and placed in a Triple Crown race unlike his better know stablemate and today; steps out of the "shadow" of the before mention; Uncle Mo and becomes the leading three year old of 2011!

Raison d' Etat (#6) Castro / Mott (10-1)

Recently chased runaway Pletcher runner (Turbo Compressor) in overnight stake here going a route distance, this well bred son of AP Indy out of the dam; Sightseek may have his "coming out" party today, bullet work for his graded stakes debut.

Shackleford (#10) Castanon / Romans (9-2)

The speedy son of Forestry tries again to take them wire-to-wire coming from the far outside post today, just missing in the Haskell Stakes.....a victory here could give him votes for top 3 year old colt of 2011.

Malibu Glow (#5) Maragh / Weaver (20-1)

Sharp allowance race win here going a route distance, a "live" longshot to play in a race that is wide open.....after you get past the four "usual" suspects!

Coil (#7) Garcia / Baffert (3-1)

The Haskell Stakes winner and Bob Baffert runner who has had a shroud of controversy surrounding him whether he would start in this race, answered the question of "natural" dirt in last start at Monmouth and now, tries to become the top dog of this year's three year old group, trainer uncertainty bothers me.....

Ruler On Ice (#4) Valdivia / Breen (6-1)

Ran an even race last time out in the Haskell Stakes at Monmouth, I'm STILL in the belief that the "sloppy" track for the Belmont Stakes moved him WAY up for that race, until he can reproduce that effort on a fast track......I'll pass!

Bowman's Causeway (#1) Dominguez / Brown (12-1)

Recent runner-up in Canada's 2nd leg of their Triple Crown; the Prince of Wales Stakes at Fort Erie racetrack, local boy from my mom's hometown of Mechanicville N.Y. tries to upset here......unfortunately, he doesn't match up well here!


Rattlesnake Ridge (#2) Velazquez / McLaughlin (8-1)

Just got up late in the Long Branch Stakes at Monmouth which is a prep race for the Haskell, faces toughest field yet and is an "underlay" at his morning line odds.

Moonshine Mullin (#3) Wilson / Baker (20-1)

Was a no factor 2nd behind Stay Thirsty in the Jim Dandy Stakes at 37-1, nothing special in that effort and today REALLY gets tested versus the best 3 yr.old runners.

JW Blue (#8) C.Velasquez / Dutrow (20-1)

Beaten a head & neck at Delaware Park in last two starts, only shows a allowance & maiden victory, blinkers OFF today.

The ALABAMA Stakes......just as equal to the TRAVERS!

Today is the top three year old race for the fillies; the Alabama Stakes. A race rich in tradition, today is the 131st running going a mile and a quarter over the Saratoga oval. I've gone to quite a few stakes races at Saratoga , but this was the first grade I that I attended in 1987. That year, a horse named; Up the Apalachee won the race and I believe one of the owners lived here locally in the Capital District area. I got my first taste of "big" Saratoga crowds that day! Three year's later in 1990, we saw a tour de force by one of the most talented three year old fillies ever in Go For Wand. The next few years, we saw a "who's who" of great fillies captured this historic race.

Trainer Shug McGaughey, who was pretty good with three year old fillies got Versailles Treaty and Heavenly Prize to win this race three years apart. In between those two horses, legendary trainer; "The Chief" H. Allen Jerkens won this race with November Snow and Sky Beauty. The latter, was quite an sensation in New York winning races. You could say she was the female version of Easy Goer at NYRA tracks. There have been major "upsets" in this race also. Pretty Discreet; the mother of both Discreet Cat and Discreetly Mine, won this stake in 1995 at odds of 42-1. But, the Alabama I recalled the best was just one year after I started writing for the Recorder. It was an "off" track that day and Silverbulletday crushed her rivals as I watched high a top the Saratoga spires on the roof. That was one of my defining moments at Saratoga through the years.

The list since then has gone on and on, so the Alabama Stakes is a highly regarded to the colts version of this race; the Travers. Today is no exception! Six runners are entered today and coming from different directions throughout the country. Royal Delta (#1) recently ran third in the Coaching Club American Oaks here at Saratoga going a mile & an eighth. She really was no factor in that race and seems to be a enigma of sorts. Pinch Pie (#2) will be the "rank" outsider in this race. All three victories for her have been on the grass, but her trainer; Anthony Dutrow is batting 44% at Saratoga and 34 % overall for the year. Plum Pretty (#3) should be the pace setter again today. She couldn't hold off the horse just outside of her (It's Tricky) last time out in the CCA Oaks and today goes an extra eighth of a mile. Will she control the pace slower today and enhance her chances? It's Tricky (#4) has come into her own in the last two starts and could be considered the modern day version of Sky Beauty, because of her liking of the NYRA tracks. St. John's River (#5) is a intriguing horse of sorts. She has the "mile and a quarter" distance written all over her. She got up in the last jump her most recent start in the Delaware Oaks at a mile and sixteenth. The field is rounded out by Canada 's, Queen's Plate winner; Inglorious (#6). While she defeated the "boys" last time out, all her victories have been on a synthetic surface. Her other two races were at the Fairgrounds and weren't that bad.

While we have a short field, it is full of many different facets. Proven horses over the course and new shooters trying to gain that "black" type - grade I victory. We may or may not get our next, Sky Beauty or Pretty Discreet. But, the Alabama Stakes is the rich tradition that doesn't take a back seat to the Travers Stakes.

Arlington Million day selections 2011

Today, we're going to give a look at the stake races card for Arlington Park and their Million day races. There are four stakes races on the "proper surface" (turf) and I'll be giving my four selections in each race. It's an added bonus to my usual Saratoga fare for this time of the year.

The first race (7th) is for three year old fillies going a mile on the turf; the Hatoof Stakes. A full field is assembled with no clear cut favorite entered. Since I am a big fan of trainer Christophe Clement, I'll pick on top the #1 - Race to Urga. With only two lifetime starts; a win and a second, she has the best upside of this group of runners. For 2nd, the Eddie Kenneally second time U.S. runner; Lily Again #12 looks like she can improve back on grass off of her main track try last time out. For your "exotic & multi-race" plays use #7 - Holidayonthefarm and #11 - Notassharpasuouthink.

The 8th race is the Secretariat Stakes for the three year old males going a mile and a quarter on the turf. Top pick here is, #9 - Wilcox Inn, the recent winner of the American Derby , the mile & three sixteenths prep for this event. Winning by four lengths, he looks to have the advantage over the European shipper; #3 - Treasure Beach who is my 2nd selection. Use in your plays also; #2 - Ziyarid & #7 - Banned.

The Beverly D. (9th) is one of the premier races for filly and mares on grass. Eleven runners are assembled here with no clear cut favorite. My top pick is #3 - Fantasia, trained by Jonathan Sheppard. Winner of a recent stake race at Arlington , she has kept good company and has the nice juicy morning line price of 6-1. For 2nd, #5 - Dubawi Heights has reeled off four straight victories in a row on the west coast at shorter distances. At 10-1 morning line odds, she provides good value. For your "exotic & multi-race runners": #1 - Stacelita and # 7 - Cheetah.

The Arlington Million, a race rich with tradition is the 10th race for horses going the mile and a quarter distance. Here, Gio Ponti (#5) is the morning line favorite. He has tons of "back class" and deserves this morning line odds. But, with only two victories in his last 10 starts, he's worth a shot against in the "top" spot. My pick here is, #7 - Cape Blanco, who is the horse that defeated him last time out in the Man 'O War Stakes at Belmont Park . I'll "box" him with Gio Ponti and use underneath these two runners; #1 - Rahystrada and #4 - Zack Hall , the European invader.
Delete ReplyReply ForwardSpamMovePrint Actions NextPrevious

Stay Thirsty......the "racehorse" my friends!

This past Saturday, the traditional prep race for the three year old males was run at the Spa. The prep race; the Jim Dandy Stakes, named for the 100-1 longshot who defeated Triple Crown winner; Gallant Fox in the 1930 running of the Travers Stakes. This year, the Triple Crown trail had a "standout" leader just a few weeks before the running of the Kentucky Derby . His named was Uncle Mo, who was trained by Todd Pletcher for Repole Stable. He WAS head and shoulders over all other three year old runners at the time. Even though there was "another" three year old in the same barn, named; Stay Thirsty, he was only second fiddle behind his well known and well met stablemate. That would soon change.....well, maybe it took a few months!

Now, with a few weeks before the "Mid-Summer's Derby ", the Travers Stakes, Uncle Mo is NOT the most interesting three year old horse in the world. That title goes to the appropriately named; Stay Thirsty. Now, HE is the most interesting three year old in the world! He broke his maiden at Saratoga , just like his better known stablemate.....but, not in the same style! He ran second behind the horse that Uncle Mo beat a few weeks later at Belmont Park in the Champagne Stakes; Boys from Tosconova. He would win the Gotham Stakes on the Aqueduct "Inner-track", while his "better" stablemate, Uncle Mo would fail to win a stakes prep race. He was starting to show interest as possibly the "most interesting three year old" in the world.

While questions arose whether Uncle Mo would make the Kentucky Derby , Stay Thirsty would compete in the Florida Derby and then be the stable bearer at the Kentucky Derby for Repole Stable. The stage was set for Stay Thirsty to come out of the shadows of Uncle Mo. Interesting to say the least, but there was a bump in the road. Shipping from the "dead of weather" in the northeast to sunny and warm Florida meant a not so good effort in the Florida Derby . With "Mo" not making it to Louisville , Stay Thirsty (my friends) would be his replacement.

I even gave him a chance to run well going the mile and a quarter distance the first Saturday in May. I thought he was a good "longshot" play, but he was no factor in the "Run for the Roses" and it looked to be back to the drawing board for him. But this most interesting journey returned in the final leg of racing's Triple Crown. Five weeks later, Stay Thirsty returned in the Belmont Stakes, the "Test of Champions". Who would have thought that THIS Repole runner would be representing the stable in this race. But, Stay Thirsty became the "most interesting horse" in the race with a narrow defeat at 17-1 in the Belmont Stakes. Now, who is the most.....well, you know what!

This past Saturday, Stay Thirsty stamped himself as the "leading" three year old male when he won the Jim Dandy Stakes in convincingly style. Stakes placed as a two year old, stakes winner as a three year old with a grade I placing, Stay Thirsty has become the "most interesting horse" in the three year old category. His "bigger" stablemate has a lot of catching up to do. On the road to recovery, Uncle Mo in my opinion is second fiddle behind his stablemate now. The rolls have reversed and Stay Thirsty is the leader. He is the new version of Cat Thief, another runner from the past who wasn't really thought of until he won the Breeder's Cup Classic in upset fashion. Stay Thirsty is the leader in the clubhouse going into this year's Travers and the spotlight is him. Out of the shadows and into the light, he is the "most interesting horse .....in the world!" Remember, STAY THIRSTY ......my friends!