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.
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