Rivalries are part of thoroughbred racing on many levels. When it comes to three year old runners, usually the Triple Crown series highlights them. We thought that we would have a good one after this year's Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. I'll Have Another and Bodemeister ran one/two in those races and there was great anticipation for the "rubber game" rematch in the Belmont Stakes. But, Bodemeister skipped the race and I'll Have Another's Triple Crown bid was halted when he scratched the day before the race and disappointed millions. We know now, both horses have been retired and the possibly of a rivalry match up with any three year old horse at this point would be moot. Well, think again!
This year's Travers Stakes - the Mid-Summer Derby, lost a lot of luster with all of the major three year old Triple Crown runners either hurt or retired before the race. That left a evenly matched field of second string three year olds, new shooters and Alpha, the winner of the Jim Dandy Stakes. He had the most talent and "back class" of the group assembled. As far as the "new shooter" group, was one runner with very little Triple Crown racing experience. In the Travers, he was getting the "acid" test and was a longshot, spite his connections. This runner was Golden Ticket, trained by Ken McPeek and took six tries even before he broke his maiden. So, this unlikely matched up was never on the radar in the Travers Stakes as a future "rivalry" between three year olds.
But, after the "dead heat" finish after the mile and a quarter event, a new and interesting grouping had developed. In fact, right after the race there was the anticipated match up we have today in the running of the Pennsylvania Derby at PARX racetrack. The winning favorite of the Travers; Alpha with the winning longshot in the same race; Golden Ticket will knock heads again versus six others going a mile and an eighth in this grade II event for three year olds. We usually don't see such a high profile three year old race this late in the season, but with the show these put on at Saratoga, it may give hope to resurrect a group of sophomores who class looked doomed after the Belmont Stakes. But, will the rivalry bloom off the Travers or will another step forward in the class?
The rail horse; Stephanoatsee (#1) won an optional off-the-turf claimer at Delaware Park in his last start versus three foes coming off a January layoff. Well thought of early this year, he can move forward off that effort.....but will have to improve very much to beat the top two, he a longshot to use underneath in exotics. Casual Trick (#2) has come into his own since coming to PARX and winning both his races here, he faced "better" horses also earlier this year and is a must use too! Handsome Mike (#3) only shows a maiden victory and that was on turf, no shot here. Junebugred (#5) was a longshot in the Smarty Jones Stakes, a prep for today and was a no factor 4th, pass on him. Csaba (#7) is an interesting runner here who two starts back in the off-the-turf Hall of Fame Stakes at Saratoga , ran a sharp 2nd in the slop going this distance, consider here. Macho Macho (#8) recently won the West Virginia Derby at Mountaineer and has been consisted in all of his seven lifetime starts. My selections for the Pennslyannia Derby are; Alpha (#4) Casual Trick (#2) Csaba (#7) and Macho Macho(#8), mix these four up in your superfecta plays and key the longer price runners "over" Alpha.
As many of you know, I always enjoy talking about I was introduced to this sport and the people who helped along the way. One of the first times I ever saw just what the OTB television network looked like was I was just a young boy. It was in my hometown in Fort Plain and every few weeks, I would see and hear horse racing on that blue & white TV screen at the local barber shop. My mom would bring me and my brother to Floyd's Barber Shop on Main Street . There, while getting my hair cut, Floyd would be listening to the race calls on the TV in his shop. Those were the days when the was only the race call and morning line odds on the screen. Floyd Salvagni passed away this week at the age of 95, he was just one part of how I was introduced to thoroughbred racing. It was just a little part, but one I remembered all these years!
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