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Quality Road installed as favorite SARATOGA SPRINGS - Maybe it would be more accurate to call the Travers the "Second Chance Derby."
Traditionally nicknamed the "Mid-Summer Derby," today's 140th edition of the mile-and-a-quarter race gives 3-year-olds a shot to repair reputations that have not lived up to their spring hype, or vault late bloomers into the mix for a divisional championship.
Quality Road, who missed the Triple Crown series after promising Derby prep victories, is the 8-5 morning-line favorite after a comeback victory in the 6-1/2-furlong Amsterdam on Aug.3. Belmont winner Summer Bird will try to bolster his credentials following a runnerup finish behind filly Rachel Alexandra in the Haskell.
Charitable Man, 6-1 on the morning line, finished a tired fourth in the Belmont after winning the Peter Pan, then was third in the Jim Dandy behind fellow Travers starters Kensei and Warrior's Reward.
"What we've probably realized is that he's a notch below the top four or five or six of them," trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said. "I don't want to take everything away from him and say he's a bum. He's a very nice horse. But when you have Quality Road - the Florida Derby winner, holder of two track records - Summer Bird, who won the Belmont, (and) the Jim Dandy first- and second-place finisher(s), it's tough."
At least the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winners will be absent, since Mine That Bird is recovering from throat surgery, and Rachel Alexandra is awaiting a date with older gentlemen in the Woodward next week.
Kensei, winner of the Jim Dandy, has essentially played the role of the nerdy twin brother to his glamorous cheerleader "sister," being in the same barn as Rachel Alexandra (both are owned by Jess Jackson). Trainer Steve Asmussen jokingly calls the colt "Rodney Dangerfield" for the lack of respect Kensei receives, although he deserves a better image after posting triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures in winning the Dwyer and Jim Dandy, the latter race just a furlong shorter than the Travers.
"I'm concerned with how much pace is in there," Asmussen said. Kensei has done his best racing on or near the lead. "Going a mile and a quarter, you get that long run to the first turn and you can't undo it once they go too quickly. He's strong, healthy, and been very impressive."
Kensei's 2-1/4-length Jim Dandy win factored heavily into the decision to send the filly to the Woodward instead.
"It played into it," he said. "We're very fortunate to have Kensei and Rachel in the barn. Running them against each other was not going to happen."
The Travers field is rounded out by Hold Me Back, whose lone victory of the year came in the Lane's End on March 21 and Our Edge, winner of three straight including the Grade III Barbaro at Delaware Park.
Light but steady rain was forecast for Friday night and this morning.
RACHEL RIVAL: The only horse on today's 13-race card who has beaten Rachel Alexandra won't be in the Travers. Sara Louise, who has the distinction of being the last horse to lead the brilliant Preakness winner across a finish line, makes her first start since November in the $100,000 Victory Ride. Sara Louise defeated Rachel Alexandra in the Pocahontas at Churchill Downs on Nov. 1, but Rachel turned the tables in their next meeting in the Golden Rod at Churchill on Nov. 29. It will also be the first time Sara Louise will race in the colors of Godolphin Stable following her purchase late last year.
Travers Stakes offers second chance for promising 3-year-old horses
Traditionally nicknamed the "Mid-Summer Derby," today's 140th edition of the mile-and-a-quarter race gives 3-year-olds a shot to repair reputations that have not lived up to their spring hype, or vault late bloomers into the mix for a divisional championship.
Quality Road, who missed the Triple Crown series after promising Derby prep victories, is the 8-5 morning-line favorite after a comeback victory in the 6-1/2-furlong Amsterdam on Aug.3. Belmont winner Summer Bird will try to bolster his credentials following a runnerup finish behind filly Rachel Alexandra in the Haskell.
Charitable Man, 6-1 on the morning line, finished a tired fourth in the Belmont after winning the Peter Pan, then was third in the Jim Dandy behind fellow Travers starters Kensei and Warrior's Reward.
"What we've probably realized is that he's a notch below the top four or five or six of them," trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said. "I don't want to take everything away from him and say he's a bum. He's a very nice horse. But when you have Quality Road - the Florida Derby winner, holder of two track records - Summer Bird, who won the Belmont, (and) the Jim Dandy first- and second-place finisher(s), it's tough."
At least the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winners will be absent, since Mine That Bird is recovering from throat surgery, and Rachel Alexandra is awaiting a date with older gentlemen in the Woodward next week.
Kensei, winner of the Jim Dandy, has essentially played the role of the nerdy twin brother to his glamorous cheerleader "sister," being in the same barn as Rachel Alexandra (both are owned by Jess Jackson). Trainer Steve Asmussen jokingly calls the colt "Rodney Dangerfield" for the lack of respect Kensei receives, although he deserves a better image after posting triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures in winning the Dwyer and Jim Dandy, the latter race just a furlong shorter than the Travers.
"I'm concerned with how much pace is in there," Asmussen said. Kensei has done his best racing on or near the lead. "Going a mile and a quarter, you get that long run to the first turn and you can't undo it once they go too quickly. He's strong, healthy, and been very impressive."
Kensei's 2-1/4-length Jim Dandy win factored heavily into the decision to send the filly to the Woodward instead.
"It played into it," he said. "We're very fortunate to have Kensei and Rachel in the barn. Running them against each other was not going to happen."
The Travers field is rounded out by Hold Me Back, whose lone victory of the year came in the Lane's End on March 21 and Our Edge, winner of three straight including the Grade III Barbaro at Delaware Park.
Light but steady rain was forecast for Friday night and this morning.
RACHEL RIVAL: The only horse on today's 13-race card who has beaten Rachel Alexandra won't be in the Travers. Sara Louise, who has the distinction of being the last horse to lead the brilliant Preakness winner across a finish line, makes her first start since November in the $100,000 Victory Ride. Sara Louise defeated Rachel Alexandra in the Pocahontas at Churchill Downs on Nov. 1, but Rachel turned the tables in their next meeting in the Golden Rod at Churchill on Nov. 29. It will also be the first time Sara Louise will race in the colors of Godolphin Stable following her purchase late last year.
Travers Stakes offers second chance for promising 3-year-old horses
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