By Dennis Miller
Travers Day at Saratoga is the highlight of the late summer and is coming strong this Saturday with five Grade I races and one Grade II.
And for the first time we will be having a Travers Day Pick’em contest!
The contest is to pick the winner of the six graded races at Saratoga. Points are awarded on a 5-3-1 basis depending on if horse runs first, second, or third.
It starts with the H. Allen Jerkins – the 8th on the Saratoga card – at 12:19 p.m. and ends with the Travers – 13th race on the Travers card – with a 3:35 p.m. post time.
Whoever gets the most points wins!
Following is a look at the six races in the contest:
Grade I H. Allen Jerkins
(8th race, 12:19 p.m.)
This one is for 3-year-olds and is a seven-furlong dash on the main track with six horses set to go.
Deep Flame (Brad Cox, Flavien Prat) took three starts to get a win, but he ran strong in all three, finishing second twice before exploding for a seven-length win on May 17 at Churchill. He came back on June 28 in the Grade III Maxfield, also at Churchill and won by over five lengths, earning a 103 Beyer in the process. He has only been worse than second at any call in a race only once.
Englishman (Cherie DeVaux, Jose Ortiz) has been off since June 6 when he blitzed the field in the Grade I Wood Stephens, winning by over five lengths and getting a 115 Beyer in the win. Before that he was second in the Pat Day Mile on the Kentucky Derby undercard on May 2. He has worked well in the mornings for this return.
Local Knowledge (Todd Pletcher, John Velazquez) has a pair of starts this year, running third in a $120,000 allowance race on June 6, then coming back with a win in the Grade II Amsterdam on July 31 at Saratoga. In his three career efforts he likes to sit right off the lead and make a late run.
Grade I Personal Ensign
(9th race, 12:55 p.m.)
This one is for fillies and mares, 3-years old and up, going 1-1/8 miles on the main track.
Margie’s Intention (Brad Cox, Manny Franco) has two starts this year, running second in a smaller stake at the Fair Grounds on March 22, then winning a $123,000 stake at Laurel Park by over two lengths on May 15. She has been off since then but has been working well in the morning and the barn hits at 28 percent with this length of break.
Fully Subscribed (Chad Brown, Flavien Prat) has three starts this year with a pair of seconds in Grade I races, and a win in a Grade II race. She was second in the Grade I La Troien on May 1, then second in the Grade I Phipps on June 5 at Saratoga. On July 24 ran a great stalking trip to win the Grade III Shuvee, also at Saratoga. Expect the same sort of stalking trip here.
Scottie Lassie (Jorge Abreu, Jose Ortiz) was second to Fully Subscribed in the Shuvee, taking the lead at the top of the lane before getting caught at the end. In her other start this year she won an $80,000 optional claimer on June 7, also at Saratoga.
Grade II Lake Placid
(10th race, 1:33 p.m.)
One mile on the inner turf course for 3-year-old fillies.
Deep Learning (Chad Brown, Manny Franco) was off for nine months then came back and ran second in the Grade III Lake George at Saratoga on August 1. Had a couple of decent works for this and is a runner that sits from the middle of the pack back before making a late move.
Naomis (Chad Brown, Flavien Prat) is the wild card here and I think probably a very live one. She makes her first start on U.S. soil after shipping in from France. The late runner won her last two starts in France at 19/1 and 20/1. Obviously, a great barn to ship into. Watch the tote for clues.
East Jabip (Todd Pletcher, Tyler Gaffalione) makes her first start for the Pletcher barn. Comes into this one after finishing fourth in the $243,000 Pucker Up at Ellis Park in a race where she set the pace throughout but fell to fourth in the lane. She lost spots but kept fighting until the end. She had been a closer until that last start.
Grade I Forego
(11th race, 2:11 p.m.)
Another sprint stake, this one for 3-year-olds and up going seven furlongs on the main track. There are eight horses entering.
Tip Top Thomas (Todd Pletcher, Flavien Prat) came back after almost seven months off and was second in a $100,000 optional claimer on July 26 at Saratoga, getting a 100 Beyer in the process. A total speedster, there’s no secret what to expect here. Has won four of eight career starts, including the Grade III Indiana Derby last year.
Hymn (Ronald Moquett, Ricardo Santana) was last seen running second in the Grade II Vanderbilt on July 25 at Saratoga at 4/1. He likes to settle in 4-5 place for most of the race and charge late. He has won three of six starts this year and most of his starts have been allowance races his recent form suggests he is ready for this spot.
Book’em Danno (Derek Ryan, Paco Lopez) has won two of three starts this year, including his last two. On June 6, he won the Grade III True North at Saratoga and got a 104 Beyer in the process. He came back July 17 in the $221,000 Mr. Prospector where he took the lead early and kept it, earning a 97 Beyer. He’s well bet in every start so there won’t be much value.
Senior Officer (Brad Cox, Luis Saez) is riding a three-race winning streak with the last two coming by a nose and a neck in optional claimers. Does step into stakes class here for this first time but the connections make this one is worth a long look. Always seems to be the favorite but I don’t think that will be the case today. Could be the best value this one has ever offered.
Grade I Ballerina
(12th race, 2:49 p.m.)
We have fillies and mares, 3-years-old and up going seven furlongs on the main track. There are 12 horses set to run.
Grammy Girl (Saffie Joseph, Javier Castellano) has three races this year, with a pair of wins and a second. Three back it was the Grade III Distaff at Aqueduct on April 25 where she came from fourth to win by a length. She came back a month later and won the Grade III Vagrancy, also at Aqueduct, this time coming from fifth to win. June 27 she was at Laurel Park where he was second in the Alma North by 10 lengths. She’s been off since then but has had a nice series of works at Saratoga.
Ways and Means (Chad Brown, Flavien Prat) won her last start – the Grade II Bed of Roses June 5 at Saratoga, pushing the pace throughout, then getting up to win by a nose. She got a 107 Beyer for the effort. Before then she was second in the Derby City Distaff on May 2 at Churchill, missing by over two lengths. She’s been off since the June race but a consistent work tab and the connections make this one a major player.
Maida (Brittany Russell, Sheldon Russell) has won two straight, both by wiring the field. The first was the Alma North, crushing the field by over 10 lengths. In her last start – the Grade II Honorable Miss – she led throughout, taking the race by a little over a length. Always shows if she’s not on the lead, she’s right off.
R Disaster (Saffie Joseph, Tyler Gaffalione) took her last start by wiring the field, the Derby City Distaff, crossing the line over two lengths in front on May 2. The one before was Grade I Madison on April 4 where she led throughout but faded late and finished third. Another speed merchant, she comes out quickly.
Eclatant (Brad Cox, Manny Franco) has won all three starts this year. The last outing was the Grade II Chicago June 26 at Churchill where he sat fourth early and charged in the lane to win by a head. Before then was the Grade I Madison April 4 where she got up to win by a nose. Been on the shelf for awhile but had some big works, and the barn hits at almost 30 percent coming off this length break.
Grade I Travers
(13th race, 3:35 p.m.)
This is the last major race of the year between 3-year-olds and this is a hot one at 1-1/4-miles featuring the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner – Golden Tempo.
Renegade (Todd Pletcher, Tyler Gaffalione) was second in the Kentucky Derby, third in the Belmont, and won the Jim Dandy on August 1 at Saratoga. A big closer that was 18th in the Derby and had that big closing run to just miss by a neck.
Golden Tempo (Cherie DeVaux, Jose Ortiz) shocked the world by winning the Kentucky Derby at 24/1 and was still doubted when he won the Belmont Stakes at 6/1 on June 6. Should get much more love here. Another big closer for the 1-1/4-mile distance will not be an issue. Will get an honest pace to run at.
Silent Tactic (Mark Casse, Luis Saez) last won a race when he took the Southwest on February 6 at Oaklawn. Had had three starts since and ran tough in all three. He was second by a nose in the Rebel, then second in the Arkansas Derby to Renegade and then third in the Jim Dandy on August 1 at Saratoga, once again behind Renegade. Could be part of the pace factor here.
By Dennis Miller