Beyond The Crown: Travers 2011 Preview

The Grade 1 Travers, to be run at Saratoga on Saturday, August 27, is shaping up as the race of the summer with Preakness hero Shackleford, Belmont Stakes winner Ruler On Ice, Haskell winner Coil, and Belmont runner-up and Jim Dandy hero Stay Thirsty.

Trainer Bob Baffert has not fully committed to the Travers with Coil and has mentioned the Pennsylvania Derby on Sept 24 as another option. His next Saratoga work will tell the story.

Early-pressing type Shackleford could go off favored in the Travers but Stay Thirsty might hold the advantage with a sharp graded stakes win over the track. Bill Mott’s late bloomer Raison d’Etat is an interesting longshot with pedigree power and a better than appears place finish in the paceless Curlin Stakes.

In addition to the Travers, the Grade 1 King’s Bishop is expected to mark the much anticipated return of Uncle Mo. The juvenile champ has been working steadily and has seemingly put his intestinal disorder behind him. The Factor is also attempting to resurface in the King’s Bishop, along with Caleb’s Posse, Flashpoint, and Justin Phillip.

Dreamy Kid is off my list after a disappointing 6^th in the West Virginia Derby. Prayer For Relief, the winner of that heat, joins the top ten chase for Bob Baffert.

Speaking of Baffert, Jaycito flopped in his Del Mar comeback and is expected to have throat surgery to correct a breathing issue.

Finally, Buffum (103 BSF) looked good in a 7f entry level romp at the Spa on 8-7. Look for the Godolphin runner to resurface at Belmont.

Check out the top ranked Three-Year-Old Males on Horse Racing Nation.

Jarrod Horak’s Top Ten Three-Year-Olds

1. Coil (Point Given) – The G1 Haskell hero is currently at Saratoga but Baffert was not happy with his Aug 17 workout. His next work will determine whether he starts in the Travers or Pennsylvania Derby.

2. Stay Thirsty (Bernardini) – Belmont Stakes runner-up and Jim Dandy winner breezed an easy 4f in :51.98 at Saratoga on 8-14. Travers is next.

3. Shackleford (Forestry) – Preakness hero was a game 2^nd in the Haskell. He worked 6f in 1:14.15 at Saratoga on 8-13 in advance of the Travers.

4. Ruler On Ice (Roman Ruler) – Belmont Stakes winner finished a solid 3^rd in the Haskell and is expected to go next in the Travers. He fired a 5f bullet in :58.80 at Monmouth on 8-13.

5. Raison d’Etat (A.P. Indy) – Bill Mott’s promising colt finished a solid 2^nd in Saratoga’s Curlin Stakes on July 29. The Travers is next for the late bloomer. He traveled 5f in 1:01.23 at the Spa on 8-14.

6. Caleb’s Posse (Posse) – Impressive G2 Amsterdam winner goes next in the G1 King’s Bishop on the Travers undercard. Breezed 4f in :48.58 at the Spa on 8-12.

7. Prayer For Relief (Jump Start) – Back-to-back graded route wins in the Iowa Derby and West Virginia Derby. The improving Baffert trainee is possible for the Travers if Coil passes on that spot.

8. Pants On Fire (Jump Start) – LA Derby and Pegasus winner finished a disappointing 5^th in the Haskell. No published works since the Haskell with the PA Derby being mentioned as a possible goal.

9. Turbo Compressor (Halo’s Image) – Not sure how good he is after controlling tempo in Curlin Stakes but he has improved since Pletcher took over. Went 5f in 1:00.56 at Saratoga on Aug 14.

10. Smash (Smart Strike) – G2 Carry Back runner-up is back on the worktab, traveling 3f in :36.80 at Santa Anita on 8-17. I would like to see him try a route of ground at some point.