BloodHorse.com | Horse Racing News

Saratoga Diary: Looking Left

Owner hints of early retirement of Uncle Mo at post-Travers press conference

read blog

Saratoga Diary: Party On

BCCA fundraiser and Prescott Brown purse highlight the meet's second to last Wednesday

read blog

Repole Hoping for Stay Thirsty, 'Mo' Double

Stay Thirsty, the potential Travers (gr. I) favorite, is coming off a dominating Jim Dandy (gr. II) victory while Uncle Mo makes his much-anticipated comeback in the Foxwoods King's Bishop (gr. I) Saturday at Saratoga.

Coil Works Bullet, Will Start in Travers

After watching him work a bullet four furlongs Aug. 23, Bob Baffert confirmed that Coil will start in the Travers (gr. I), but he still has not made up his mind about stablemate Prayer for Relief.

Shackleford, 'Ice' in Final Travers Works

Preakness Stakes (gr. I) winner Shackleford and Belmont Stakes (gr. I) winner Ruler On Ice turned in their final works for the Travers (gr. I) Aug. 20.

Coil Drills Six Furlongs for Travers

Haskell Invitational (gr. I) winner Coil, one of the probable favorites for the Aug. 27 Travers Stakes (gr. I), worked six furlongs Aug. 17 at Saratoga.

Shackleford, Others Work for Travers

Michael Lauffer and Bill Cubbedge's Shackleford turned in an important work for the Travers (gr. I) Aug. 13, breezing six furlongs on the Saratoga main track in 1:14.

Coil on His Way to Travers After Bullet Work

After breezing a brisk four furlongs in :46.15 Aug. 10 on the Saratoga main track, trainer Bob Baffert confirmed that Haskell Invitational (gr. I) winner Coil is "a go" for the Aug. 27 Travers (gr. I).

It's Tricky, Rattlesnake Bridge Turn in Works

It's Tricky turned in her first work following her victory in the TVG Coaching Club American Oaks (gr. I), breezing four furlongs in :49 1/5 Aug. 6 at Saratoga.

Shackleford Arrives at Saratoga

Preakness Stakes (gr. I) winner Shackleford, second by a neck to Coil in the July 31 Haskell Invitational (gr. I), arrived at Saratoga shortly after 4 p.m. Aug. 1 to prepare for his next start.

NBC to Broadcast Live Coverage of Saratoga

The New York Racing Association and the NBC Sports Group May 12 announced a partnership to broadcast "Summer at Saratoga," live racing from Saratoga Springs, N.Y., over seven weekends beginning July 23.

Travers Winner Afleet Express to Gainesway

Afleet Express, tenacious winner of the $1 million Travers Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga against a stellar field, has been retired from racing and will stand the 2011 season at the Beck family's Gainesway Farm near Lexington.

Pletcher: Super Saver Will Undergo Tests

Kentucky Derby Presented By! Yum Brands (gr. I) winner was 10th in the Travers (gr. I).

Saratoga Diary: Betting Your Birthday

Speed was the key for handicappers, but fans have their own ways of picking winners.

Read Blog

Afleet Express Nips Fly Down in Travers

In a thrilling edition of $1 million Shadwell Travers Stakes (gr. I), Afleet Express held off Fly Down by the narrowest of margins to win the "Mid-summer Derby" Aug. 28 at Saratoga.

Zito Will Run All Three in Travers

Miner's Reserve will join stablemates Ice Box and Fly Down in the $1 million Shadwell Travers Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga Aug. 28, it was confirmed the day before the race.

Romans Hoping First Dude Can Break Through

The 3-year-old bay colt ran second in the Preakness, third in the Belmont Stakes and the Haskell Invitational (all gr. I), and has earned more than $500,000 despite only a maiden victory in nine career starts.

THS: Travers and Pacific Classic

Jason, Tom, and Les Instone of TwinSpires.com preview the Travers (gr.I) and Pacific Classic (gr.I).

Watch Video

Travers or King's Bishop For Trappe Shot?

The connections of Trappe Shot remain undecided on whether they will enter their colt in the $1 million Travers (gr. I) or $250,000 King's Bishop (gr. I), both on Aug. 28 at Saratoga.

Travers-Personal Ensign Double Offered

A double wager linking the Aug. 28 Travers Stakes (gr. I) with the following day's Personal Ensign (gr. I) will be offered at Saratoga Race Course.

Seven Travers Contenders Make Final Moves

Seven contenders for what appears will be a big field for the $1 million Travers (gr. I) had their final works Aug. 21 at both Saratoga and Churchill Downs.

Zito's Travers Hopefuls Turn in Works

Robert LaPenta's 3-year-olds Miner's Reserve and Ice Box put in workouts Aug. 20 at Saratoga, with both colts from the barn of Nick Zito listed as possible for the $1 million Travers (gr. I) on Aug. 28.

Top Contenders Gearing Up For Travers

Travers (gr. I) hopeful Friend Or Foe had his first work since a fourth-place finish in the Jim Dandy (gr. II), covering five furlongs on the Saratoga main track in 1:00.11 Aug. 13.

Travers or King's Bishop Next for Trappe Shot

Mill House's Trappe Shot, second to Lookin At Lucky in the IZOD Haskell Invitational (gr. I), will make his next start at Saratoga Race Course Aug. 28, trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said Aug. 4.

Summer Bird on the Mend at Oaklawn

Summer Bird, who received the Eclipse Award as the top 3-year-old male earlier in the week, was back in his stall Jan. 22 after a walk and being spoiled by his owners, Drs. K. K. and Vilasini Jayaraman.

Champion 3YO Male: Summer Bird

Jayaraman's colt won grade I Belmont, Travers, and Jockey Club Gold Cup.

Saratoga Attendance, Handle Down Slightly

Attendance and handle turned down fractionally for the first time during the 2009 Saratoga Race Course meet after two inches of rain Aug. 28 and 29 lowered attendance on Shadwell Travers (gr. I) Day and forced seven of the weekend's 11 carded turf races off the turf. Attendance was down 1.6%, on-track handle down 1.6%, and all-sources handle down 2.8% from 2008 totals through week five.

Surgery for Mine That Bird; Travers Still On

Mine That Bird, winner of the 2009 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), will have surgery Aug. 18 to correct an entrapped epiglottis, trainer Chip Woolley said. The son of Birdstone will still be pointed for the $1-million Shadwell Travers Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga on Aug. 29.

Smith to Ride Mine That Bird in Two Stakes

Trainer Chip Woolley announced July 4 that Mike Smith would ride Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner Mine That Bird in the $750,000 West Virginia Derby (gr. II) on Aug. 1 and the $1 million Shadwell Travers (gr. I) on Aug. 29.

NTRA to Offer Telecast of Grade I Stakes

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association announced June 30 the broadcast schedule for "Emirates Airline Summer Racing Presented by the NTRA."

No Breeders' Cup for Rachel Alexandra

Stonestreet Stables' Jess Jackson, majority owner of Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) and BlackBerry Preakness (gr. I) winner Rachel Alexandra, said in a wide-ranging media teleconference June 24 that the superb filly would not race in this year's Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita but that there is a good possibility that she would return in 2010 for a 4-year-old campaign.

Both Birds, Charitable Man Eye Travers

Belmont Stakes (gr. I) winner Summer Bird, Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner Mine That Bird, and Peter Pan winner (gr. II) winner Charitable Man are all targeting the Shadwell Travers (gr. I) later this summer at Saratoga, but will take different paths to the "Mid-Summer Derby."

Travers Book on Paper's Top 10 List

The Schenectady (New York) Gazette has selected a book about the Travers Stakes as one of its top 10 books of 2008. The newspaper's annual listing, released Dec, 28, included "The History and Art of 25 Travers" by Vic Zast, a regular contributor to The Blood-Horse and other publications.

Horses Come Back OK After Rough Travers

Just before leaving a flight from Albany, N.Y., to Southern California, trainer Eoin Harty checked in at the barn at Saratoga to see how WinStar Farm's Colonel John came out of the exciting nose victory over Mambo in Seattle in the $1-million Travers Stakes presented by Shadwell Farm (gr. I) Aug. 23.

Col. John Noses 'Mambo' in Epic Travers

In one of the most thrilling finishes in the race's 139-year history, WinStar Farm's Colonel John nosed out Mambo in Seattle to win the $1-million Travers Stakes Presented by Shadwell Farm (gr. I) Aug. 23 at Saratoga.

Pyro Morning Line Favorite for Travers

A field of 12 was entered Aug. 20 for the $1-million Travers Presented by Shadwell Farm at Saratoga Aug. 23.

Proud Spell Another Likely BC No-Show

With Curlin all but ruled out as a potential starter for the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) by majority owner Jess Jackson due to the synthetic surface, it looks as though another division leader, Proud Spell, also will bypass the Breeders' Cup, according to trainer Larry Jones.

Da' Tara Fires 'Bullet' Work For Travers

Belmont Stakes (gr. I) winner Da' Tara fired a bullet work Aug. 15, and along with Jim Dandy (gr. II) winner Macho Again, head the likely field for the Aug. 23 Travers (gr. I).

Godolphin's Music Note Works for Alabama

Godolphin's Music Note is likely headed for the $600,000 Alabama Stakes (gr. I) along with stablemate Little Belle Aug. 16 at Saratoga, although the Travers (gr. I) remains a possibility for the two-time grade I winner in New York this season.

Travers Field Begins to Take Shape

According to New York Racing Association Stakes coordinator Andrew Byrnes, Acai, Colonel John, Da' Tara, Harlem Rocker, Macho Again, Mambo in Seattle, Pyro, Tale of Ekati, and Tres Borrachos are probable for the Travers Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga.

Dutrow Back in the Flow

Dutrow speaks. Following a brief hiatus, in which he remained pretty much cloistered within the walls of his Aqueduct domain, Rick Dutrow finally has ended his vow of virtual silence and made his voice once again heard via an NTRA teleconference Tuesday.

Saratoga Meet Off to a Slow Start

Handle and attendance are down through the first week of the 2008 Saratoga meeting, the New York Racing Association reported July 28.

Inside Track: Midsummer Derby Artist

When the owner of a Saratoga Springs, N.Y., gallery learned that a visitor thought a poster commemorating the 1985 Travers Stakes didn't serve the gallery or the race proper respect, the owner challenged the visitor to create something finer.

ESPN to Air Seven Summer Racing Shows

"NTRA Summer Racing" will air on the ESPN networks beginning Saturday, June 28, the National Thoroughbred Racing Association announced June 17.

Dutrow, Desormeaux Meet, Mend Fences

Trainer Rick Dutrow's initial displeasure over Kent Desormeaux's ride aboard Triple Crown hopeful Big Brown in the June 7 Belmont Stakes (gr.I) had abated quite a bit the morning of June 11, after he met with the Hall of Fame jockey. Dutrow said Desormeaux, who eased Big Brown at the top of the stretch in the Belmont, would have the mount when the colt races again.

NetJets to Sponsor King's Bishop Stakes

NetJets and the New York Racing Association announced a marketing partnership for the 2008 Saratoga meet during a press conference in the Belmont Park press box June 6.

Shadwell to Sponsor Travers, Suburban

Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum's Shadwell Farm has become the presenting sponsor for the New York Racing Association's Travers Stakes (gr. I) and Suburban Handicap (gr. I) through 2009.

NYRA Reports Final Numbers for 2007

A release from the New York Racing Association highlighted strong growth in key areas with the on-track handle increasing, but all-sources wagers and average starters per race reflected a slight dip when the organization reported its final 2007 figures Jan. 18.

Curlin, Pyro, Grasshopper Work

Horse of the Year candidate Curlin continued his path toward an unrevealed destination when trainer Steve Asmussen sent him to an easy five-furlong work over the Fair Grounds surface Jan. 18. The 4-year-old Smart Strike colt went the distance in 1:04 flat on a fast track.

Hesanoldsalt Euthanized

Live Oak Plantation's Hesanoldsalt, a 5-year-old son of Broad Brush, was euthanized Jan. 16 following a freak accident at Palm Meadows, according to trainer Nick Zito.