2010 Travers Stakes: Morning Works
by Matt Gardner on Aug 24, 2010 10:34 AM EDT
in Saratoga
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Saturday is the Midsummer Derby at Saratoga: the Grade 1 Travers Stakes. From the reports throughout the racing world it looks like there could be a nice full field of three year olds contesting the 141st running of this prestigious race. This will also likely be the last time that many of these three year olds will run in races restricted to their age group as most will dive into the older ranks in preparations for possible Breeders' Cup runs.
A couple of notes regarding this year's potential Travers day starters:
-The draw will take place Wednesday morning at Saratoga.
-Afleet Alex continues to show his usefulness at stud as he could possibly have three runners in this year's field: Admiral Alex, Afleet Again, and Afleet Express.
-Discreetly Mine rolls into this race after destroying the field in the Grade 2 Amsterdam Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs on August 2nd (he earned a 111 BSF for his effort). I'm not sure if he's cut out to carry his speed over ten furlongs but he should ensure that the pace is lively on the front end.
Speaking of Discreetly Mine, he's got an interesting work patter in the table below. He ripped off a blazing 46.22 for four furlongs in his work prior to the Amsterdam and then has come back to post two very slow drills, both at Saratoga and at four panels. Seems like they are trying to build some stamina into him but I'm surprised they didn't try to stretch him out for a slow five or six furlong work at least once.
Discreetly Mine will not run in the Travers but instead will run in the King's Bishop. Trappe Shot, however, has opted for the Travers.
-Nick Zito has got to be happy with the probable entry of Discreetly Mine into the race as his horse, Ice Box, desperately needs the leaders to set a good, honest pace in this race. He should also appreciate the extra furlong after his so-so effort in the 1 1/8 mile Haskell.
-According to reports, First Dude has been working with blinkers for trainer Dale Romans.
Below the jump is a summary of the morning work tab for horses mentioned as possible starters in this Saturday's race.
|
Date |
Horse |
Track |
Surf. |
Dist. |
Time |
Type |
Rank |
|
7/26 |
A Little Warm |
SAR |
Dirt |
5 |
1:00.05 |
B |
|
|
8/14 |
A Little Warm |
SAR |
Dirt |
5 |
1:03.06 |
B |
21/28 |
|
8/21 |
A Little Warm |
SAR |
Dirt |
5 |
1:01.58 |
B |
9/28 |
|
7/26 |
Admiral Alex |
SAR |
Dirt |
5 |
1:01.12 |
B |
|
|
8/11 |
Admiral Alex |
SAR |
Dirt |
5 |
1:02.67 |
B |
|
|
8/20 |
Admiral Alex |
SAR |
Dirt |
6 |
1:14.02 |
B |
1/1 |
|
7/18 |
Afeet Again |
MTH |
Dirt |
5 |
1:00.40 |
B |
|
|
7/26 |
Afeet Again |
MTH |
Dirt |
4 |
:49.00 |
B |
|
|
8/22 |
Afeet Again |
SAR |
Dirt |
4 |
:48.10 |
B |
1/7 |
|
7/23 |
Afleet Express |
SAR |
Dirt |
7 |
1:25.62 |
B |
|
|
8/14 |
Afleet Express |
SAR |
Dirt Training |
5 |
1:01.00 |
H |
2/18 |
|
8/21 |
Afleet Express |
SAR |
Dirt |
6 |
1:13.06 |
B |
1/2 |
|
7/27 |
Discreetly Mine |
SAR |
Dirt |
4 |
:46.22 |
B |
|
|
8/15 |
Discreetly Mine |
SAR |
Dirt |
4 |
:51.88 |
B |
50/55 |
|
8/22 |
Discreetly Mine |
SAR (Sloppy) |
Dirt Training |
4 |
:52.32 |
B |
3/4 |
|
7/22 |
First Dude |
CD |
Dirt |
6 |
1:14.20 |
B |
|
|
8/14 |
First Dude |
CD |
Dirt |
5 |
1:01.40 |
B |
8/18 |
|
8/21 |
First Dude |
CD (Sloppy) |
Dirt |
5 |
1:01.40 |
B |
2/7 |
|
7/26 |
Fly Down |
SAR |
Dirt Training |
4 |
:47.30 |
H |
|
|
8/12 |
Fly Down |
SAR |
Dirt Training |
4 |
:48.68 |
H |
|
|
8/21 |
Fly Down |
SAR |
Dirt Training |
4 |
:48.35 |
H |
4/25 |
|
7/26 |
Friend or Foe |
SAR |
Dirt |
4 |
:47.33 |
B |
|
|
8/13 |
Friend or Foe |
SAR |
Dirt |
5 |
1:00.11 |
B |
|
|
8/21 |
Friend or Foe |
SAR |
Dirt |
5 |
1;00.60 |
B |
5/28 |
|
7/25 |
Ice Box |
SAR (Muddy) |
Dirt Training |
4 |
:48.85 |
B |
|
|
8/12 |
Ice Box |
SAR |
Dirt Training |
4 |
:48.76 |
H |
|
|
8/20 |
Ice Box |
SAR |
Dirt |
5 |
1:00.09 |
B |
2/26 |
|
7/26 |
Miner's Reserve |
SAR |
Dirt Training |
4 |
:48.80 |
B |
|
|
8/12 |
Miner's Reserve |
SAR |
Dirt Training |
4 |
:50.50 |
B |
|
|
8/20 |
Miner's Reserve |
SAR |
Dirt Training |
4 |
:48.35 |
H |
2/30 |
|
7/26 |
Super Saver |
SAR |
Dirt |
5 |
1:00.77 |
H |
|
|
8/14 |
Super Saver |
SAR |
Dirt |
5 |
1:02.56 |
B |
18/28 |
|
8/21 |
Super Saver |
SAR |
Dirt |
5 |
1:01.13 |
B |
6/28 |
|
7/26 |
Trappe Shot |
SAR |
Dirt |
4 |
:48.28 |
B |
|
|
8/14 |
Trappe Shot |
SAR |
Dirt |
4 |
:48.97 |
B |
9/40 |
|
8/21 |
Trappe Shot |
SAR |
Dirt |
5 |
1:01.92 |
B |
14/28 |
|
8/5 |
Trickmeister |
SAR |
Dirt |
5 |
1:03.66 |
B |
|
|
8/11 |
Trickmeister |
SAR |
Dirt |
6 |
1:12.40 |
H |
|
|
8/17 |
Trickmeister |
SAR |
Dirt |
6 |
1:12.76 |
B |
2/2 |
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Comments
A Few Comments & Questions...
It seems to me that not that long ago trainers were skipping the Travers because of the BC but now the field is bigger and better. Any truth to that? I think the BC has been pushed out a couple weeks of late.
Where will the money be spread out? I dont think we’ll get a KyDby fav at 8-1 but is 9-2 possible?
Are there any lightly raced runners who are straight improving instead of in a racing cycle?
The sloppy Derby was won in 2:04.45 – what kind of time is needed to win on Saturday?
I Am Thinking 2:02 Wins The Race...
I think I like all of Afleet Alex’s progeny in here, and I like Ice Box a lot if we get at least one more speedballer.
Now is the time boys to make a big noise.
No matter what the people say,
For there is naught to fear, the gang's all here,
So hail West Virginia, hail.
Stretch comparison
Saratoga 1,144 feet
Churchill 1,234.5
Pimlico 1,152
Belmont 1,097
So basically it’s about the same length as the stretch at Pimlico.
I believe that Fair Grounds is the one of the few tracks with a longer stretch run than Churchill.
"A bad day at the track is better than a good day at the office."
by Matt Gardner on Aug 24, 2010 7:38 PM EDT up reply actions
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