Travers Stakes: A Horse Racing Tradition

From NTRA.com:
Darley Stable's Bernardini, winner of the Preakness Stakes (gr. I) and Jim Dandy (gr. II), was installed the even-money favorite when seven 3-year-olds were entered Wednesday for Saturday's $1-million Travers Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga.

First race post time Saturday is 12:30 p.m. EDT with the 1 ¼-mile Travers set to go at 6:30 p.m. as race 11 on a 12-race card. An all stakes Pick 4 with a guaranteed pool of $1 million includes the grade II Ballston Spa, grade II Bernard Baruch, grade I King's Bishop and Travers. There will also be a $100,000 guaranteed Grand Slam pool which begins in race seven and ends with the King's Bishop. All four stakes races will be broadcast on ESPN's "Sports Center from Saratoga" from 5 to 7 p.m. ET.

"His performances have been speaking for themselves and this will no doubt be his toughest challenge," trainer Tom Albertrani said. "Bluegrass Cat has been second in two classics and he's definitely the horse that's going to be the main threat to him. I feel our horse is training as well as ever and, hopefully, he runs his race as he has in the Preakness and Jim Dandy. I would love to see that kind of performance again."

With a compact field in the Travers and a long run to the first turn, post positions will not be extremely important. Bernardini drew post 5 with jockey Javier Castellano.


http://www.ntra.com/content.aspx?type=news&id=19706


Travers Post Positions and M/L Odds

1. Hesanoldsalt - E. Coa - 15-1
2. Minister's Bid - E. Prado - 8-1
3. Dr. Pleasure - C. Velasquez - 12-1
4. High Cotton - G. Gomez - 6-1
5. Bernardini - J. Castellano - 1-1
6. Kip Deville - R. Bejarano - 30-1
7. Bluegrass Cat - J. Velazquez - 2-1

Did Bernardini scare them away or is there a shortage of quality three year olds?

I think Bernardini will win in a romp. Bluegrass Cat can't put together two good races
in a row.

an especially good crop of 3 YO? Where'd they all go?

Lawyer Ron is in the St. Louis Derby this weekend.

My picks so far: Bernardini in the Travers, Henny Hughes in the King's Bishop and I'm still trying to figure out the turf stakes. I'm a chalk eatin' weasel.

a superfreak!

Castellano was patting his neck a few hundred yards from the wire. Romp. I can't wait until the BC Classic!

I thought it was a mistake to skip the Belmont but looks like they knew what they were doing. The 3-year-old championship is all but his now, unless Discreet Cat dominates the fall. No way Bernardini won't be picked above Barbaro. That voting is always heavily skewed toward late in the season, when there's any question.

Bernardini went to the front again. It will be interesting to see what happens when there's a legit speed horse in the race, whether Bernardini will be able to stay off the pace and not pull Castellano to the front. But he did a great job rating today in the second and third quarters after the opening fraction was reletively quick at 23:2. Once I saw the 48 flat I knew the race was over.

From DRF:
Although the outlook for champion sprinter Lost in the Fog remains grim, his handlers are pursuing an aggressive medication regimen in hopes of shrinking his cancerous tumors, trainer Greg Gilchrist said Thursday from his barn at Golden Gate Fields.

"It's a longshot, but this is a game where longshots come in," Gilchrist said. "When it's two outs, bottom of the ninth, you do what you can. Miracles do happen. I'm not a negative type of guy. I deal with what's in front of me, deal with it head on, and then move on if we have to. But right now, I'm not giving up on this horse. He's certainly still in with a chance, but it's a longshot."

Lost in the Fog last week was found to have three tumors, one of which - near his abdomen, just below his spine - is inoperable. Lost in the Fog returned to his barn at Golden Gate earlier this week, ostensibly to live out his final days around those who have cared for him since he came on the racetrack more than two years ago.

According to Gilchrist, Lost in the Fog is being treated with the steroid dexamethasone in an attempt to shrink the tumor, "and other stuff to build up his immune system," Gilchrist said.

http://www.drf.com/news/article/77912.html


From The Bloodhorse:
Lost in the Fog 'Not Done Yet,' Gilchrist Says

Less than a week ago, trainer Greg Gilchrist said that it was "the bottom of the ninth" for his champion sprinter Lost in the Fog, diagnosed with terminal cancer. But at his Golden Gate Fields stable Thursday, the rally caps were out.

Returning to his barn after spending the previous five days in Florida for the Ocala Breeders' yearling auction, Gilchrist said Lost in the Fog is being treated in his stall with medications designed to shrink two football sized tumors found in his spleen and beneath his spine along his back, as well as a third, smaller mass. The trainer said he was encouraged by the 4-year-old colt's feistiness.

"This horse is not done yet," he said. "We are trying to shrink the tumors if that would be possible. If we can shrink them 50 percent, there's a chance we can remove them (surgically). It's a long shot but long shots happen all the time in this game. It's something to hang on to. We're not dead in the water yet."

http://news.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=35015


Lost in the Fog wins the 2005
King's Bishop at Saratoga.

...scrolling down Equidaily I read a headline near the bottom that betting is down slightly comprared to last year.

Meanwhile also, I keep forgetting to comment on how much I enjoy the posts of Sid, OB, and the other horse-connected people here.

Best of luck in all of your betting and racing!

unemployment rate in MI. My local tracks handle was down this last spring but, attendence was up slightly. Dollar Night was a big hit. I saw alot more families at the track. It was free admission and everything was $1 so it was a cheap Saturday night outing.

Thanks for the nice words about the posts. We need people like you more than you need us. We need a younger group of fans. We need to hear your views. Let's discuss things that are important to you.

Bernardini
Minister's Bid
Bluegrass Cat
...

I like High Cotton too (he's gorgeous) but don't think he'll last the distance. If Bernardini wins this impressively, I'd say it places him even with Barbaro in terms of 3 year old colt of the year accomplishments.

Henny Hughes is my pick for the King's Bishop.

Discreet Cat ran a stellar race today at Saratoga in his return to the track - seven furlong optional claimer in 1:21 2/5.

That's some amazing news about Lost in the Fog; I really hope they find a way for him to make it through.

*Sigh*

http://www.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=35053

From DRF:
The bar has been raised high. Bernardini has parlayed his Preakness victory into wins in the Jim Dandy and Travers Stakes. Lawyer Ron came back last weekend to capture the St. Louis Derby. Discreet Cat romped last weekend at Saratoga. Showing Up took the Secretariat Stakes. Yes, many of the top 3-year-olds from the first half of the year have kept on motoring right through the summer.

Now it's time for two more familiar names to show if they are as good now as they were then. On Saturday at Del Mar, two of the spring's biggest stars make their comebacks, with the added intrigue of racing against one another.

Brother Derek, the popular winner of the Santa Anita Derby, and Bob and John, who won the Wood Memorial, compete for the first time since their Triple Crown races in the $100,000 El Cajon Stakes. Only three other 3-year-olds entered the one-mile race, but two of them - Da Stoops and Cindago - are fast enough, or showed enough promise in the first part of their careers, to suggest that they will have some say in the way the race unfolds.

Most eyes, though, will be on Brother Derek, who was considered the West's best Kentucky Derby prospect earlier this year. His Santa Anita Derby victory was his fourth straight. He was compromised by drawing post 18 in the Kentucky Derby, where he raced wide while finishing in a dead heat for fourth, then ran like a tired horse when fourth in the Preakness.

http://www.drf.com/news/article/78153.html

From The Bloodhorse:
Front-running Cindago left the former Triple Crown contenders Bob and John and 2-5 favorite Brother Derek behind when he won the $106,300 El Cajon at one mile for 3-year-olds by a half-length at Del Mar Saturday.

Bob and John hit the lead mid-stretch but could not hold on against the determined Cindago, who rallied back along the inside for Corey Nakatani to prevail under strong urging. Cindago, a $900,000 colt trained by John Sadler for owner Lea Searing's C R K Stable, had not raced since breaking his maiden in his second start at Santa Anita Dec. 26. The winning time was 1:36 2/5.

Sadler said he had hoped Cindago would develop into a top flight 3-year-old earlier this year, but he had a knee problem.

"We wanted to be in the big 3-year-old races here this year, so we skipped a condition and put him in a little steep today," Sadler said. "He's come back really well, and it looks like we should have a fun horse."

http://racing.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=35156

Not a good race for him at all. He looked great in the paddock but you could tell he was laboring on the far turn to stay up and just didn't have the gas left to charge past. Perhaps he needed the race but he seems to have lost a step since the Kentucky Derby. I think Hendricks intended to take him to the Goodwood next but wonder if they'll revisit those plans.

taken alot out of Brother Derek. He did not look like the same horse I remember. I was hoping he would be able to challenge Bernardini in the Classic.

From DRF:
Results from Thursday's examination of Eclipse sprint champion Lost in the Fog revealed little change in his condition, with three cancerous tumors still present.

http://www.drf.com/news/article/78169.html

Forego Stakes (Gr.I)

1 Nightmare Affair (Jeffrey Sanchez, 121)
2 Commentator (Eibar Coa, 121)
3 Friendly Island (Garrett Gomez, 119)
4 Awesome Twist (Javier Castellano, 117)
5 Greeley's Galaxy (Calvin Borel, 117)
6 Spanish Chestnut (Julien Leparoux, 117)
7 Mass Media (Fernando Jara, 121)
8 Pomeroy (John Velazquez, 117)
9 Judiths Wild (Kent Desormeaux, 119)
10 Silver Wagon (Edgar Prado, 117)
11 War Front (Jose Santos, 121)

two gun sid's picks:
1. Commentator
2. War Front
3. Greeley's Galaxy


Woodward Handicap (Gr.I)

1 Wild Desert (Edgar Prado, 126)
2 Papi Chullo (Eibar Coa, 126)
3 Suave (Calvin Borel, 126)
4 Naughty New Yorker (Jose Santos, 126)
5 Sun King (Julien Leparoux, 126)
6 Flower Alley (John Velazquez, 126)
7 Second of June (Garrett Gomez, 126)
8 Premium Tap (Kent Desormeaux, 126)
9 Andromeda's Hero (Fernando Jara, 126)
10 Funny Cide (Richard Migliore, 126)
11 Wanderin Boy (Javier Castellano, 126)

two gun sid's picks:
1. Suave
2. Papi Chullo
3. Flower Alley

* disclaimer: Do not take my advice and actually bet any of your money on any of my picks.

From The Bloodhorse:
Premium Tap Pours It On in Woodward Shock

http://racing.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=35152


Pomeroy Pops An Upset in Forego Handicap

http://racing.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=35151

The same goes for me. I have been on the track in every conceivable capacity for 37 years and remain
one of the sport's worst handicappers.

Funny Cide looked fantastic going into the race (he was in the barn next to us all summer)
but I think he needs to stick with NY bred stakes now. His days of Graded wins seem to
be over.

My little two year old filly was fourth in her first start the other day for 100,000 mdn. cl
and we were thrilled that she did not kill herself of her jock in the gate. She behaved better
than the other fillies, two of which fell over and one of them was scratched. So she passed
this test in good shape. She'll do very well next time if she breaks with the field. She broke
last the other day.

Seems like Wanderin Boy getting scratched changed a lot of the dynamic. I had Suave pegged for the win, too -- he ran a miserable race. As OB said, Funny Cide needs NY Breds. Flower Alley looks done; not sure what to make of two straight clunkers but it's interesting Pletcher kept him sidelined so long after last year's BC Classic.

fifth - probably would have been second if not for the break.

http://racing.ustrotting.com/race_result.cfm?race_id=1850711&target=873998

trotters can be so frustrating by making breaks at critical points in a race. ML did pretty well considering. A break in the stretch is hard to overcome.

We got our brains beat out in the MI Breeders Futurity last weekend. Finished dead last. Mick trotted well but was completely outclassed.

3 more fair races this year and Mick is going in for a tag.

...we're thrilled just to have a horse good enough to race with the big boys. He's pretty lightly staked from here out - we're trying not to burn him out this year and get him ready for the big stuff next year.

Hopefully you have better luck the next few weeks.

let me know. I'd like to see him race.

Thanks for the words of support. We need some luck.

To be honest, I feel we haven't done that good a job managing Mick. I can't blame poor old Mick. We've made mistake after mistake.

"Keep yourself in the best of company, and your horse in the worst company."

It is hard not to overface them in the beginning especially if they show ability
in the am, but it is practical to allow them to work their way up to the better
divisions.

I feel I made the same mistake with my filly. I should have put her in for mdn. cl 35,000
where she would have won even with breaking dead last and let he learn to beat other horses.
Oh well. Next time we have her placed properly and hope she still wants to kick some butt.

poor Mick looks like he's been through a war. They set a new track record for 3 YO colt trotters. We didn't get distanced and we have been in with a couple of the horses that beat us before. We were looking for earnings to get into the Fair finals next month. We were dumbasses. We violated another Luro rule: "Never squeeze the lemon dry."

I will be looking for your filly next time out. I'm glad she handled the gate with no problems. That had to be a big load off your mind.

<on edit> My favorite horse in your barn is in tomorrow. Good luck. I'll be screaming at the computer screen for him.

But BSR needs to show a bit more enthusiasm for the game tomorrow.

He is just back from a lay off.

...bad news from the vet. ML has a very small bump on one of his tendons (might have picked it up in the race at DuQuoin). Ultrasound showed a very small tear. We're shutting him down for the year. With rest and treatment, he should be good as new next spring.

hope ML comes back good for you guys.

2 YO's have to go so damn fast to be competitive these days. It's a wonder they stay together as well as they do.

From ustrotting.com:
Chocolatier won the World Trotting Derby in straight heats Saturday afternoon at the Du Quoin State Fair. With total purses of nearly $1 million, the 16-race card was one of the five richest in Du Quoin State Fair history.

Chocolatier, driven by DR Ackerman, was parked to the quarter in the first heat as Double Player (Andy Miller) maintained his post one starting position into the first turn. Make You Mine (Mike Lachance), leaving from post three, was parked second into that turn, with Chocolatier alongside and three wide. As the field trotted by the quarter pole, the latter had cleared to lead the nine-horse field single file up the backstretch.

Ackerman and his Credit Winner colt continued to lead the way through a leisurely front half of 58 seconds. Make You Mine sat in the garden spot drafting along, with Double Player in tow.

Chocolatier then lead the bunching field onto the final turn, but as they exited into the stretch, a wall of trotters four-wide had swung out to take aim on the leader.

http://www.ustrotting.com/absolutenm/anmviewer.asp?a=17596&z=1

sailed in from the heavens to take the Hopeful today at Saratoga's closing day. He came down the stretch like a monster after blowing the break and falling about 15 lengths behind. One to keep an eye on for sure. He's a Thunder Gulch/Circle of Life kid.

Blood Horse article: http://racing.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=35176

From The Bloodhorse:
A national public opinion survey found that 69% of Americans are against killing horses for human consumption. The findings come just a week before the U.S. House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on a bill that would end horse slaughter for human consumption.

The poll was conducted among 800 likely voters Aug. 9-13 by Public Opinion Strategies, and has a margin error of plus or minus 3.46%. It also found that 71% of Americans believe that horses are part of America's culture and deserve better treatment, but that 64% felt it was important not to pass judgment on the eating habits of other cultures.

Horse slaughter has been a topic of interest lately as the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act makes its way through Congress. The House is set to vote on the bill Sept. 7, which was introduced by New York Rep. John Sweeney and Kentucky Rep. Ed Whitfield. A rally to show support for the bill is scheduled for Sept. 5.

Two major supporters of the bill are T. Boone and Madeleine Pickens. On Aug. 30, they began running full-page ads in USA Today, The Dallas Morning News, San Antonio Express-News, and San Diego Union Tribune asking the public to contact their lawmakers about the bill.

http://news.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=35173


This is an issue I feel the horse industry needed to address long ago. I am opposed to slaughter and do not use that as a stable management policy. At this point in time I have the luxury of being able to keep unproductive horses around but, for some, that is not the case. How do we deal with horses that people can no longer care for?

I'd like to hear any opinions on this issue.

I gave some thoughts in this thread going on in LBN: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2497555.

I know that finding homes for all horses would be difficult, but I think humane euthanasia, selling a horse to someone who can car for him or her, equine rescue groups, etc. are all preferable to slaughter, which I find totally repulsive. I'm interested to know what the number of horses being bred is now compared to years in the past. According to the Blood Horse, 17 percent of horses sent to slaughter are thoroughbreds; honestly, I thought it would be higher. Ultimately, what I find frustrating in the racing industry are the owners who race horses but discard them after careers at the track are over.

wow, people have some strong opinions about this issue.

From The Bloodhorse:
A bill to end horse slaughter for human consumption passed the U.S. House of Representatives Sept. 7 with a final vote of 263-146. Two amendments to alter the bill both failed to pass.

"It was a significant win," Kentucky Rep. Ed Whitfield said. "There was just an overwhelming feeling, at least on the House side, that something should be done about it."

Whitfield, along with New York Rep. John Sweeney, were lead sponsors of the bill.

If the bill becomes law, the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act would shut down the three horse slaughter plants in the country. The plants in Forth Worth and Kaufman, Texas, and DeKalb, Ill., slaughtered more than 90,000 horses last year. The vast majority of the meat was sold overseas, where it is considered a delicacy.

http://news.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=35228

It's been a really crummy week for me and this is a lone, wonderful bright spot. I hope the Senate gets a bill going and it's eventually signed into law by that madman BushCo.

And somewhere, I hope Ferdinand and Exceller are neighing their approval.

From The Bloodhorse:
Prominent racing owner James McIngvale on Thursday filed a federal lawsuit in Texas that in part charged trainer Bob Baffert and Florida-based sales agents J.B. McKathan and Kevin McKathan with receiving secret commissions and kickbacks on "various Thoroughbred racehorses" the Houston furniture industrialist purchased at public auction.

The lawsuit, which was filed in the U.S. District Court in Galveston, Texas, specifically details a transaction involving the sale of Work, a $950,000 purchase on behalf of McIngvale at the 2003 Keeneland April 2-year-olds in training sale. The civil action alleges that the McKathans received a 10% commission from consignor Murray Smith for the purchase of the son of Menifee-Pacific City, by Carson City.

A copy of a $95,000 canceled check paid to Our Team LLC, a Florida corporation affiliated with the McKathan brothers, was included as an exhibit with the lawsuit. The check, which was signed by Smith, had included in the memo line, "10% Comm. On Menifee-Pacific City."

According to the lawsuit, McIngvale had an oral agreement with the McKathans to pay them 5% of the purchase price of horses bought on his behalf during the term of their relationship, from 2001-2004.

http://news.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=35240

IT is why Satish Sanaan of Padua started his movment to change the ethics of
the sales world. He has had some success.

This is an old deal but it has been going on for a long time.

This just my opinion so, take it for what it's worth. The breeders have too much financial leverage over the game.

Some of these breeders and sales agents are just plain dumb. Oh, they strike it rich but, every time they burn some green owner they hurt the sport. That's one less owner that is going to be willing to stay in the business when the inevitable hard times come. The trainers, sales agents and breeders that defraud owners are taking money out of the pockets of everyone trying to make a living by racing horses.

If what is alleged in this lawsuit is true, these people need to be vilified and publicly shamed. They are screwing everyone else in the business. From the lowliest farm hand to the richest owner.

This was posted today on DRF.com:
Investors sue ClassicStar

http://www.drf.com/news/article/78539.html

On a more upbeat note: OB, how's your filly feeling? Did BSR come out of his race alright?

Look for him over hurdles next year.

My filly bled pretty bad a few days ago in her first workout since she ran. It was a shock to us. She had always been
so clean winded and never even coughed when all the other horses were sick. We'll treat her for it and give her some
time to get her head together. It shakes them up when that happens.

About the fraud at the sales.... THe breeders don't really have anything to do with it. These are horses that they raised
and then sold at auction as weanlings or yearlings. Then the two year old consigners try to make big bucks putting them
through the two year old in training sales. The breeder has been out of the picture since the day the horse left their
place for the original sale. It is the so called bloodstock agents and consigners who rip the owners off. There is a case
everyone knew about several years ago where a prominent west coast trainer bought a two year old at Barretts for a couple of
million. The consigner had agreed before the sale to let it go throug the ring for half a million. The trainer then went and
bid the colt up to two milllion. So that means the trainer who was buying it for his owner ripped that owner off for 1.5 million.

And people wonder why owners get out of the business after experiences like this.

hopefully, it won't affect her attitude. As for BSR, well, I wish him the best in all his future endevours. I don't know why I like him, it must have been the name.

Here in MI, the SB breeders do have a lot to do with the problems. Breeders in cahoots with certain trainers. Generally we don't sell 2 YO's in training in the SB business. I think last year FL had a sale for 2 YO's but, that is the only one I know about.

<on edit> Hey, didn't Mr. T used to be a jumps jockey?
We took Mick back to Sports Creek Raceway Saturday night. We finished 2nd. He tired and got passed in the stretch. A good horse beat us and Mick really tried. Overall, I'm proud of the guy. He didn't get beat up so we'll be back next week.

but he quickly became known as Jockey TooLong. He grew about a foot in a year.
It ended his riding career.

Good to hear about the second. Mick seems to try hard all the time.

From Irish-Racing.com:
He was the one punters were most interested in and Dylan Thomas justified the faith of the betting public in the Baileys Irish Champion Stakes.

Nine to four in the morning into a returned 13/8 favourite, Kieren Fallon tracked stable companion Ace before challenging and leading briefly from the two furlong pole.

However Ouija Board, who had travelled through the race best of all, took over a furlong and a half out under Jamie Spencer and for a few seconds looked a likely victor.

But Dylan Thomas is undoubtedly very tough and genuine and with his ears flat back on his head he rallied in determined fashion to lead again close home, passing the post a neck to the good.

http://www.irish-racing.com/v3newsitem?prv=4&prdt=2006-09-09%2017:49:46.00

It really looked like Ouija Board had this one wrapped up and Dylan Thomas fought back gamely. I hope they both head to the Breeders Cup.

Ouija Board is a nice horse. I'll be rooting for her.

Blood Horse article: http://auctions.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=35277

Opening Session of Keeneland Sale Posts Increases in Average and Median
by Leslie Deckard
Date Posted: 9/11/2006 11:41:21 AM
Last Updated: 9/11/2006 11:06:52 PM

After breaking from the gate a bit slowly, the 2006 Keeneland September yearling sale quickly picked up speed, led by the purchasing power of Sheikh Mohammed of Dubai, to post increases in average and median price despite the gross and number of horses selling showing a slight decline.

Day one of the 14-day sale saw 163 horses--down from 188 in 2005--sell for $87,900,000, a decline of 0.9% from last year's gross of $88,712,000. The average increased 14.3% to $539,264 from 2005's figure of $471,872. The median was $310,000, up 3.3% over last year's $300,000 with 63 horses (27.9%) failing to find new homes. Last year 61 horses (24.5%) failed to meet their reserves.

Sixteen horses sold for more than seven figures compared to 21 during the opening session of 2005.

...

The powerful purchasing team of Sheikh Mohammed and his agent, John Ferguson, bought seven of the 16 seven-figure yearlings, including the session-topping $8.2 million son of Overbrook Farm stallion Storm Cat.


** snip, rest at link **

5-yo turf star Artie Schiller, winner of last year's BC Mile, off to study duties at Hurricane Hall near Lexington, where he joins Bellamy Road.

Blood Horse story: http://breeding.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=35317