Mark Hoffman's 2012 graded Travers Stakes selections

Street Life (#5) Lezcano / Brown (5-1)

My favorite three year old colt of 2012 won the restricted Curlin Stakes here on a sloppy, sealed track as a prep for this race, I always said that the longer he goes, the better chance he has for victory, unfortunately this race lacks speed.....he'll have to be on his "A" game to show his late closing kick.



Alpha (#6) Dominguez / McLaughlin (5-2)

Got an easy lead and wired the field in the Jim Dandy Stakes, he may get the same chance to do it again, the BIG difference today is that he'll be racing an eighth of a mile more, legitimate favorite.



Fast Falcon (#11) Alvarado / Zito (20-1)

No factor in the Jim Dandy Stakes, may have not cared for the sloppy racing surface, his two Belmont races show me that he has a good late kick, should have no problem getting the mile and a quarter distance, gets the Zito respect in this race....at a price!



Nonios (#10) Velazquez / Hollendorfer (4-1)

2nd best in the Swaps Stakes and Haskell with triple digit Beyer speed figures in both races, can set the perfect stalking trip, let's see if he takes to the Saratoga strip!



Neck n' Neck (#8) Goncalves / Wilkes (9-2)

Chased Alpha around the track in the Jim Dandy Stakes, his two previous races at Churchill Downs gave him big figures, gets the mid-pack trip.



Five Sixteen (#2) Napravnik / Schettino (15-1)

Was 2nd best behind Street Life in the Curlin Stakes, was a nice price to fill out my exacta there, Rosie stays aboard this runner.



Atigun (#7) Smith / McPeek (12-1)

No factor in the Jim Dandy Stakes, even 3rd in the Belmont Stakes and Mike Smith new in the irons today, chance to hit the board.



Golden Ticket (#3) Cohen / McPeek (20-1)

Late entrant to the race, 2nd best on the Derby day undercard in optional claimer, another who be close to the pace, gets the "acid" test today versus this group.



Stealcase (#4) Bridgmohan / Casse (15-1)

No factor in the Haskell at Monmouth Park finishing a well beaten 3rd, hard to tell what running style he'll have today, last two showed no early foot & three starts back was much closer to the pace, big longshot.



Liaison (#9) Bejarano / Baffert (8-1)

The last Baffert three year old runners standing....... he was well thought of as a juvenile, but really never panned out, I would be SHOCKED if he gets Baffert a win today over his stablemates who are NOT here; Bodemeister & Paynter.



Speightcity (#1) Ortiz / Contessa (30-1)

Hasn't been seen since the Withers Stakes......in February! returning off that long layoff and had the distinction to win a mile & an eighth route race here as a two year old last year, very tough spot for return!