The most asked question by everyone I meet lately is whether, American Pharoah will be racing in the Travers Stakes one week from today. As we approach the date, it's become much like when Lebron James was making his decision to leave Cleveland as a free agent and go to Miami. A lot of hype has surrounded this through social media and the press. There have been many tweets from the owners, speculation by the press and actions by NYRA to lure him here. The decision has come down to his trainer; Bob Baffert and his next workout on Sunday if he'll make the cross country trip back to the east coast and run in the Mid-Summer Derby. Speaking for myself, I'll be glad when the decision is made. My gut tells me that he won't be coming because of the trip and possibility of staying on the west coast to give his fans there one last race in front of the hometown crowd. Remember, American Pharoah hasn't race this year in California where he is based. So, with all the preparation that NYRA has done expecting him come to Saratoga, I think there will be some disappointed people.
The second biggest three year old race at the Spa is contended today. The Alabama Stakes is the female equivalent of the Travers Stakes. At one time, the Alabama was a bigger race than the Mid-Summer Derby. A short, but equally matched field has been assembled with four graded stakes winners. Today's race may determine this year's three year old filly champion. It will likely come down between the first two finishers in the Coaching Club American Oaks, which was run here on opening weekend. There we saw one of the many disqualifications take placeat this meet. A border line call in my opinion, when the front end leader; I'm a Chatterbox got leg wary late and drifted into the hard charging Curalina. The call to disqualify the winner and place the second place horse first could have gone either way. It was likely that Curalina would have gone past I'm a Chatterbox if the race was a bit longer. Today, Curalina gets that eighth of a mile distance longer and should be just what she ordered for victory.
Speaking of fantastic fillies who raced at the Spa, on Monday we get to see a sister of the great Rachel Alexandra make her stakes debut and the long awaited debut of her second foal, Jess's Dream. In the 6th race, maidens go a mile and an eighth and the field includes the three year old son of Rachel Alexandra making his debut; Jess's Dream(#3). He is the first foal from great filly and second one to race here this summer. His sire was a two time horse of the year - Curlin and is a home bred. It's very interesting that they chose to spot him going long instead of a sprint for his first race. I know he's a late bloomer and there are high expectations of him. It's a tough spot versus more seasoned runners who have already raced in two turn route events. The paddock will be full of people and he'll take money at the windows. He also has the expectation of winning first out just like his younger sister (Rachel Valentina) did earlier in the meet.
Later on Monday's card, Rachel's full sister; Samantha Nicole (#5) makes her first stakes appearance in the Summer Colony Stakes (8th) going the same route distance as her younger nephew. She's been consistent, but not as brilliant as her sister in seven career starts. She meets a field of average filly and mares and fits well in this spot. It's a family affair on Monday afternoon at the Spa as we begin a very busy Travers week and the decision whether we'll see the Triple Crown champion race one week from today in Saratoga's biggest race.
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