Whirlaway in 1947 was the only other horse to win the Triple Crown and the Travers in the same year. I don't think any 3 year old can stay with him.
American Pharoah to run in the Travers Stakes
- Thread starter Glenn's Take
- Start date
Going the Monday after. Unless you're a high roller you're a sucker if you go to 'Toga on the busiest day of the year.
Although for this occasion it would be worth it.
Although for this occasion it would be worth it.
Yeah Travers is just too nutty for me. Too packed, too many downstaters.. And if it's a hot August day? You're toast.
The only time I bother with Saratoga is a special occasion or a weekday when I can really enjoy it. That track and town is something else though!
The only time I bother with Saratoga is a special occasion or a weekday when I can really enjoy it. That track and town is something else though!
Have a good time, man..It's on my list to get up there someday. Midweek would be my speed..I'd like to be able to soak it all in, but a day like Travers or the Whitney, probably wouldn't be the best option.
Me and a friend were sitting around on a Friday a few years ago and got a wild hair up our butt and just decided to go. Made the 13 hour drive and came back on Sunday. It lives up to it's reputation. One thing I never knew is that the track is a mile and a 1/16th and not a mile. Not as big as Belmont but still a noticeable difference.
My grandfather was an outrider on the NYRA circuit for a long time. He was actually a jockey until he got his leg caught in a starting gate and shattered it. My parents gave me his retirement present for Christmas last year. It's a lithograph of Steve Cauthen sitting on Affirmed and it's signed by pretty much every jockey from the time. I probably should get the thing appraised.
My grandfather was an outrider on the NYRA circuit for a long time. He was actually a jockey until he got his leg caught in a starting gate and shattered it. My parents gave me his retirement present for Christmas last year. It's a lithograph of Steve Cauthen sitting on Affirmed and it's signed by pretty much every jockey from the time. I probably should get the thing appraised.
Always thought it was a 1 1/8? They used to run one mile races out of a chute that jutted out at the Clubhouse Turn, but they havent raced out of that in years..Ellis had an identical set up.
Keeneland may hold the distinction of being the only 8.5 furlong track out there.
Keeneland may hold the distinction of being the only 8.5 furlong track out there.
Should be interesting for sure - has he shipped yet?
His last work was at Del Mar end of last week - correct?
His last work was at Del Mar end of last week - correct?
It's just an awesome town to visit. Small, but lively. Lots of money. Very New England-ish. And last I checked it had the highest concentration of Restaurants/Bars to residents than anywhere else. Caroline St. is a blast, but like the track, can get packed. It's about 3 blocks of nothing but bars and clubs.
I've done that drive to Kentucky quite a few times, and it's suicide-inducing. The 8 hour drive from Cincy to Buffalo is brutal. I can't imagine doing that 14-hour drive one day, and doing it again only 48 hours later. Anytime I go to Kentucky now, I make sure it's at least for 4-5 days.
Starting to change my tune and think this as well. Not a lot of Triple Crown winners have also been able to win the Travers. And there's talk of some big rider/trainer talking about how he has the best horse he's ever had. Not sure who or the exact quote.. but it seems a lot of people want a shot at the champ.
I wouldn't mind going up there, plopping down in my favorite bar 9 Maple, and watching it from there with a nice glass of Bourbon.
He is shipping on Wednesday.
I was wrong, the track is 1 1/8.
Rachel Alexandra's first foal won his first race today at Saratoga. He's a 3 year old that was set back with injuries. He really came from the clouds to win it. He was last by about 20 lengths before winning by 1. Rachel had a 2 year old filly out of Bernardini win her first start a few weeks ago. 2 foals, 2 races, 2 winners.
I was wrong, the track is 1 1/8.
Rachel Alexandra's first foal won his first race today at Saratoga. He's a 3 year old that was set back with injuries. He really came from the clouds to win it. He was last by about 20 lengths before winning by 1. Rachel had a 2 year old filly out of Bernardini win her first start a few weeks ago. 2 foals, 2 races, 2 winners.
Beholder was impressive, but it was against a tiring crowd of horses. Bayern and Hopportunity have been trending down for months.
And I bet Bayern still believing he's due.Truth is, Baffert cashed in all his chips with Bayern when they left him up in the Classic..
One knock against the big mare is she doesn't ship well..Mandella has done a great job with her and she deserves a shot in the Classic, imo.
Speaking of, Honor Code is one to add in there too.
One knock against the big mare is she doesn't ship well..Mandella has done a great job with her and she deserves a shot in the Classic, imo.
Speaking of, Honor Code is one to add in there too.
Saratoga - best track in America...and it's not even close. the track, town, night-life and it's only happening for 5 weeks at the end of the summer.
It's going to be an epic ****-show on Saturday. I have a couple of GA ticekts to get in and have been watching the prices for seats slowly dropping. Might skip it all together and watch it on TV.
If you ever have a chance, visit Saratoga for racing season...it's special.
It's going to be an epic ****-show on Saturday. I have a couple of GA ticekts to get in and have been watching the prices for seats slowly dropping. Might skip it all together and watch it on TV.
If you ever have a chance, visit Saratoga for racing season...it's special.
She was only 3/5 off breaking the track record and was geared down the entire stretch. Tired horses or not Pharoh would have had to beat the track record that day and then some to get past the big mare
Before I got the PPs today I was swearing to myself I wouldn't single AP in the Pick 4. It was too obvious and there wouldn't be any money to be made. After looking at the PPs for a few minutes I don't think I can even find anyone else I would want to put on the ticket. I was hoping that I could find someone to press him a little bit early but there just isn't. Texas Red is the only one that could even try but it doesn't seem to be his game. He'd rather close but he needs pace and it just isn't there. That being said I'll play it as a really nice Pick 3 pool to play into. We'll see what scratches and some more time to peruse the PPs brings but here is what I'm looking at.
Race 8 Kings Bishop 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11
Race 9 Forego 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 12
Race 10 Sword Dancer 2, 4
Race 11 Travers 2
Race 8 Kings Bishop 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11
Race 9 Forego 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 12
Race 10 Sword Dancer 2, 4
Race 11 Travers 2
He'll get the pace scenario he wants. That's for sure. 6 horses want the lead in that race. He's certainly the most seasoned closer.
Joel Rosario had a bad spill in the Forego and is off the rest of his mounts including Frosted in the Travers.
Jose Lezcano will ride Frosted.
Jose Lezcano will ride Frosted.
Agree with previous comments about 'Toga, hopping place when racing season is in full swing. Born and raised in Lexington but never been to Keeneland or even a horse race till we moved here to USNY. Great scene, almost tailgate like atmosphere. The wife and I went just last week, a lot of fun.
only because of Ice's surge at the end. Had that not happened then AP would have won out and everybody would be saying he's the greatest 3 year old of all time, when in truth he's probably the triple crown winner against the weakest competition in the past 50 years (meaning Affirmed, Alydar, and Seattle Slew each had to beat at least one horse better than any horse AP ran against this year).
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I dunno. AP and Frosted were neck and neck for a good portion of the race, looked like they were rubbing coming around the last turn, probably took a lot out of AP. Still a helluva race.
No kidding, I remember reading about the Derby and how it was the deepest field in years. Hell, Secretariat lost the Travers also, to Onion (not saying AP is the equal of Secretariat, but still . . . )
I hope it's just an over reaction. I don't think I'd run again before the Classic if I were him though.
Knee jerk...his son tweeted out that he came back good, just tired. Didn't they wait an extra day to ship out from Monmouth because of the same reason? Jmo, but if Zayat's goal was the Travers, why ship the horse back to California? I will agree with Jerry Bailey who said Espinoza should've ridden a few races on the undercard to get his timing down. Probably in the jock's room dancing, while Castellano picked up his 5th Travers...and fourth straight at that.