Around the Backstretch: Travers Edition

The post position draw for the 2011 Travers Stakes will take place tomorrow at Saratoga at 11am Eastern. Currently, nine horses are slated to enter Saturday's 142nd running of the Mid-Summer Derby.

Travers News

Thoroughbred Racing News - Baffert: Coil looking good, a go for the Travers - PaulickReport.com
“Coil, if he looks great tomorrow, he is definitely running in the Travers,”

Raison d'Etat, J W Blue post final major Travers moves - Handicappers' Edge
Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott was aboard his pony, Paintball, to watch RAISON D'ETAT (A.P. Indy) in his final workout in the lead up to Saturday's $1 million Travers S. (G1) at Saratoga.

Shackleford clocks five furlongs for Travers - Handicappers' Edge
Preakness S. (G1) winner SHACKLEFORD (Forestry) readied for next Saturday's $1 million Travers S. (G1) by taking a five-furlong spin in 1:00 4/5, breezing, over Saratoga's fast main track with jockey Jesus Castanon aboard. The move was the seventh fastest of 37 workouts at the distance on Saturday's worktab.

Saratoga: Coil to run in Travers after Baffert is pleased by fast Tuesday work - Daily Racing Form
Barring the unforeseen between now and Saturday, Haskell winner Coil will run in the $1 million Travers, trainer Bob Baffert said Tuesday.

Off-Track

NTRA announces dates for National Handicapping Championship - PaulickReport.com
The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) announced today that the 13th annual Daily Racing Form/NTRA National Handicapping Championship (NHC)—to be held for the first time at Treasure Island Las Vegas—will take place on Friday and Saturday, January 27-28, 2012. Total purse for the event is estimated at a record $2 million, with the winner receiving a record $1 million grand prize and an Eclipse Award as “Handicapper of the Year”.

CNBC Program to Feature West Point's Finley | BloodHorse.com
The Aug. 22 episode of the CNBC program “How I Made My Millions” will feature West Point Thoroughbreds founder and CEO Terry Finley. The show is scheduled to air at 9 p.m. (ET) and will be re-broadcast at midnight (ET).

After 28 Days, Saratoga Numbers Still Solid | BloodHorse.com
Ontrack business at the current Saratoga meet after 28 days continues to run ahead of comparable figures for 2010, the New York Racing Association reported Aug. 22 as the fifth week of the meet ended.

Kentucky Downs sets date for Instant Racing machines - Thoroughbred Times
Kentucky Downs is scheduled to begin operating 200 Instant Racing machines on September 1, pending final approval from the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission.

Kentucky moves forward on recommended drug policies - Thoroughbred Times
Responding to recommendations from the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium (RMTC), the Kentucky Equine Drug Research Council will ask that adjunct-bleeder medications be prohibited on race day.

Other News

Pletcher: Uncle Mo, Stay Thirsty on Target | BloodHorse.com
Repole Stable's Uncle Mo and Stay Thirsty worked well at Saratoga the morning of Aug. 21 and remain on target for their respective starts in the Foxwoods King's Bishop Stakes and Travers Stakes (both gr. I) Aug. 27.

Del Mar: Tanda eyes BC Filly and Mare Sprint | Daily Racing Form
Tanda's victory in the Rancho Bernardo Handicap on Sunday has her new trainer, Mike Mitchell, eyeing the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint on Nov. 4 at Churchill Downs.

Del Mar: The Factor staying home for Pat O'Brien | Daily Racing Form
The Factor, trainer Bob Baffert's wickedly fast 3-year-old, is remaining at Del Mar for the Grade 1, $250,000 Pat O'Brien Stakes on Polytrack on Sunday.

Twirling Candy works a mile as Pacific Classic field takes shape - Handicappers' Edge
Potential Pacific Classic (G1) favorite TWIRLING CANDY (Candy Ride [Arg]) worked a mile in 1:37 4/5 over Del Mar's Polytrack Sunday morning, one week ahead of his tilt at the $1 million contest. Jockey Joel Rosario was aboard for the move, which was observed by ownership partners Jenny Craig and Marty Wygod from a grandstand box.

Irish Champion on agenda for Snow Fairy - Horse Racing News | Racing Post
SNOW FAIRY looks set to head to Ireland and take her chance in the Group 1 Red Mills Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown for her next start.

FRANCE Declaration rule to be reviewed by France Galop - Horse Racing News | Racing Post
The technicality which led to Snow Fairy being denied a run in Sunday's Prix Jean Romanet is likely to be looked at in the near future by French officials amid calls from several of the country's leading trainers to have the rule scrapped...