The Aug. 29 Shadwell Travers Stakes (gr. I) lost some of its luster hours before entries were taken Aug. 26 when it was announced that Mine That Bird, winner of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), would not run in the "Mid-Summer Derby" at Saratoga Racecourse.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Equestrian portrait artist Brian Fox has unveiled his latest edition of artwork commemorating this summer's series of horseracing.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner Mine That Bird breezed Aug. 25 at Saratoga for the first time since undergoing minor throat surgery last week and the next 24 hours should determine whether he will run in $1 million Shadwell Travers (gr. I).
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner Mine That Bird turned in his final workout for the Aug. 29 Shadwell Travers Stakes (gr. I) when he breezed a half-mile in :49.76 over the fast main track at Saratoga on Aug. 25.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Trainer Steve Asmussen said Aug. 24 that top 3-year-old filly Rachel Alexandra will run in the Sept. 5 Woodward Stakes (gr. I) and that stablemate Kensei would contest the Aug. 29 Shadwell Travers Stakes (gr. I).
Monday, August 24, 2009
Edward P. Evans' Quality Road put in his final breeze before the Aug. 29, grade I, $1-million Shadwell Travers at Saratoga Race Course, covering five furlongs over the muddy main track in :59.68, fourth fastest of 24 at the distance on the morning of Aug. 24.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Kent Desormeaux climbed aboard Summer Bird Aug. 15 as the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) winner put in his first serious work for the $1 million Shadwell Travers (gr. I) over the main track at Saratoga.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
While America's 3-year-old sweetheart Rachel Alexandra is frolicking at the Jersey Shore Aug. 2 in the Haskell Invitational (gr. I) at Monmouth Park, and a deep, well-matched group of colts gather in the Adirondacks for the Jim Dandy Stakes (gr. II) at Saratoga, the winner of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! brands (gr. I) for the first time in history will be out in the Appalachians, showing off in front of the Mountaineer Park crowd in the West Virginia Derby (gr. II).
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
This week, Jason and guest co-host Evan Hammonds take on the Travers (gr. I). Plus, Cary Fotias of Equiform offers picks for race 10 at Arlington Park Aug. 23.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Other than Big Brown, no 3-year-old has separated itself from the rest of the pack in 2008. That could all change Aug. 23 at Saratoga, as a full field of 12 will go to post in the $1 million Travers Stakes Presented by Shadwell Farm (gr. I), each horse seeking its place in history by attempting to win one of the oldest and most prestigious Thoroughbred races in North America.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
The Horse Racing Radio Network will provide live coverage of 11 graded stakes the final two weekends of the Saratoga meet.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Dallas Stewart and Eoin Harty, the respective trainers of Macho Again and Colonel John, discuss the chances of their colts in Saturday's Travers Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
The New York Racing Association held a press conference in Albany, N.Y., June 23 to discuss the upcoming 36-day Saratoga meet, which begins July 23 and runs through Sept. 1.
Monday, June 23, 2008
Entering the $500,000 Super Derby Stakes (gr. II) Sept. 22 at Louisiana Downs, Going Ballistic had not won since May. With help from jockey Clifton Berry, Mike and Mary Kindred's 3-year-old colt soared through the middle of the racetrack to overtake heavy favorite Grasshopper to win by a length.
Saturday, September 22, 2007
The general consensus is that the $1-million Travers Stakes (gr. I) will be a cake walk for Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) champion Street Sense. When the post positions were drawn Aug. 22 and the son of Street Cry was installed as a 3-5 morning line favorite, that line of thinking was confirmed.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
The Horse Racing Radio Network's broadcast of the Aug. 25 Travers Stakes (gr. I) from Saratoga will be carried in the Saratoga Springs, N.Y., area on radio and also available on the Web.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner Street Sense galloped 1 1/8 miles over Saratoga's main track Aug. 20, and weather permitting, will perform a five-furlong work tomorrow in preparation for the 138th running of the $1 million Travers Stakes (gr. I) Aug. 25.
Curlin breezed for the first time in three weeks as well.
Monday, August 20, 2007
One more scrambled eggs and bacon meal is not what the doctor's ordered, but, then, hey, it is Saratoga and the "vittles" were there to be gobbled up.
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Tom Albertrani is entering the fourth weekend of August with a huge bull's-eye on his back. The trainer will send out Balletto in the Personal Ensign (gr. I) Friday and the following afternoon will saddle Songster and Bernardini in the King's Bishop (gr. I) and Travers Stakes (gr. I), respectively.
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Immediately following their epic battle in the Belmont Stakes (gr. I), in which Affirmed out-dueled Alydar by a head to become the 11th Triple Crown winner, racing fans began looking down the road to the Travers.
Monday, August 14, 2006
Sure, you can look at the 136th running of the Travers Stakes (gr. I) as just another day at the office for the high-powered firm of Pletcher and Velazquez, Inc. But to many of the people close to the victorious Flower Alley, this one was personal.
Wednesday, August 31, 2005
Bob Baffert switched signals again Monday morning, working probable Travers Stakes (gr. I) favorite Roman Ruler under sunny skies at Saratoga.
Monday, August 22, 2005
First Samurai, an impressive 2-year-old allowance winner Aug. 7, breezed four furlongs in :47 2/5 over the main track Friday morning with Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey aboard. The son of Giant's Causeway will make his next start in the Hopeful (gr. I), going seven furlongs on the Travers (gr. I) undercard Aug. 27.
Friday, August 19, 2005
B. Wayne Hughes' Don't Get Mad, winner of the Derby Trial and Northern Dancer Breeders' Cup Stakes (gr. III), tuned up for the $1-million Travers Stakes (gr. I) with a mile work Friday in 1:41 at Santa Anita.
Friday, August 12, 2005
Queen's Plate winner Wild Desert, who had been training sharply in preparation for the $1-million Travers Stakes (gr. I) Aug. 27, will miss the "Mid-Summer Derby" and likely be out the rest of the year due to a suspensory injury, according to trainer Richard Dutrow.
Thursday, August 11, 2005
Smuggler to miss Alabama... Travers field grows... Spot found for Alinghi's North American debut... High Limit to stay on grass... Book signings scheduled.
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
Fog City Stable's Roman Ruler, winner of the Dwyer Stakes (gr. II) in his last start, worked seven furlongs in 1:24 at Del Mar Tuesday in preparation for the $1-million Haskell Invitational Handicap (gr. I) at Monmouth Park on Aug. 7.
Tuesday, July 26, 2005
Afleet Alex, the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) and Preakness (gr. I) champion, recorded his first official workout in more than a month Sunday morning when he breezed five furlongs over Belmont Park's fast main track in 1:00 4/5.
Sunday, July 10, 2005
The 2005 classic season is in the books, but it took its toll, producing one of the longest casualty lists in memory. But, now it is time for the second season to get under way, and although many of the early season stars will be missing, there is still Afleet Alex and a few new stars in the making.
Wednesday, June 29, 2005
In an effort to bolster the Travers Stakes Day card Aug. 27, the New York Racing Association has added the Hopeful Stakes (gr. I) to the stakes lineup that day.
Monday, June 27, 2005
Rockport Harbor, who finished sixth in Saturday's Lexington Stakes (gr. II) as the 3-5 favorite, emerged from the race in "great physical condition" but will no longer be pointed toward the Kentucky Derby (gr. I) or other two legs of the Triple Crown, according to owner Rick Porter.
Monday, April 25, 2005
Birdstone's 2 1/2-length win Saturday in the Travers (gr. I) at Saratoga, coupled with the colt's upset of Smarty Jones in the Belmont (gr. I), opens up the race for this year's 3-year-old championship, at least in the minds of some.
Monday, August 30, 2004
A fast-approaching thunderstorm Saturday evening near Saratoga Springs that caused the Travers (gr. I) starting time to be moved up five minutes cost the New York Racing Association $5 million in total wagering, an official estimated.
Sunday, August 29, 2004
Marylou Whitney Stable's Belmont-winning Birdstone gave trainer Nick Zito his first victory in the Travers Stakes (gr. I) Saturday at Saratoga Race Course, just moments before an intense rainstorm hit the track.
Saturday, August 28, 2004
Jay Em Ess Stable's Travers runner Suave finally arrived in Saratoga Thursday after a flight delayed from Kentucky by mechanical difficutlies.
Thursday, August 26, 2004
For longshot lovers, there are two potential overlays in the Aug. 28 Travers Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga. Maybe it's time to take the plunge.
Wednesday, August 25, 2004
Patrick Biancone, who will saddle Haskell Invitational (gr. I) winner Lion Heart in the $1-million Travers Stakes (gr. I) Aug. 28, and Todd Pletcher, trainer of Jim Dandy (gr. II) winner Purge, have different opinions about the 3-year-old championship picture.
Tuesday, August 24, 2004
Improving Suave has been added to the field for the $1 million Travers (gr. I) Aug. 28th, trainer Paul McGee announced.
Monday, August 16, 2004
Belmont Stakes winner Birdstone, owned by Marylou Whitney Stables, breezed six furlongs in 1:16 Sunday over the fast Oklahoma training track at Saratoga with regular exercise rider Maxine Correa up.
Sunday, August 15, 2004
The $1 million Travers (G1) is now less than three weeks away, but the picture is still cloudy. With SMARTY JONES retired and Belmont (G1) winner BIRDSTONE training up to the race, it appears that starter Bob Duncan will have a gate full of sophomores since no one is being scared away.
Thursday, August 12, 2004
Lion Heart shipped in Sunday morning, won the $1 million Haskell Invitational (gr. I) on Sunday evening, and by Sunday night he was on his way home to Saratoga.
Monday, August 09, 2004
Marylou Whitney's Birdstone, who denied Smarty Jones the Triple Crown with his victory in the June 5 Belmont Stakes (gr. I), will make his first start back in the $1-million Travers Stakes (gr. I), trainer Nick Zito said July 23.
Friday, July 23, 2004
Wood Memorial (gr. I) winner Tapit had his first breeze Tuesday since withdrawing from the Belmont Stakes (gr. I), due to a recurrence of a lung ailment that has plagued him since the Florida Derby (gr. I).
Tuesday, June 29, 2004
Although the horse has undergone a stem cell procedure to help heal a ligament tear in his ankle, the connections of Ten Most Wanted said they would rather stand him at stud than attempt a racing comeback.
Friday, June 25, 2004
Kentucky Derby (gr. I) runner-up Lion Heart breezed four furlongs in a bullet :49 over the Oklahoma training track in Saratoga Tuesday. Trainer Patrick Biancone said the colt will aim for either the Haskell Invitational (gr. I) or Jim Dandy Stakes (gr. II), with his main objective the $1 million Travers Stakes (gr. I) Aug, 28.
Thursday, June 24, 2004
Nick Zito has been busy recently trying to come up with a schedule for his talented arsenal of 3-year-olds. Even with the loss of Eurosilver, Zito is loaded as he sets his sights on a number of major stakes, beginning with the July 11 Dwyer Stakes (gr. II) at Belmont Park.
Tuesday, June 22, 2004
In a change to recently announced policy regarding reserved seats for the 2004 Saratoga season, the New York Racing Association is not requiring patrons to prepay their admission along with the reserved seat. However, the increase in prices for reserved seats remains in effect.
Thursday, January 08, 2004
In a change to recently announced policy regarding reserved seats for the 2004 Saratoga season, the New York Racing Association is not requiring patrons to prepay their admission along with the reserved seat. However, the increase in prices for reserved seats remains in effect.
Thursday, January 08, 2004
Travers Stakes (gr. I) and Super Derby (gr. II) winner Ten Most Wanted continued to advance toward a probable start in the Oct. 25 Breeders' Cup Classic - Powered by Dodge (gr. I) on Monday with a half-mile work in :47 4/5 over a fast main track at Hollywood Park.
Monday, October 06, 2003
A well-focused Ten Most Wanted and jockey Pat Day took advantage of a torrid pace duel to register an easy victory in the 2003 Travers Stakes (gr. I) before a Travers Day record 66,122 at Saratoga Race Course Saturday.
Sunday, August 24, 2003
