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Saturday's card at Saratoga features the Travers Stakes and a powerhouse roster of supporting races -- a highlight not just of the racing weekend but of the entire summer. There are four Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" races at Saratoga and a fifth at Del Mar.
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Canterbury Park in Minnesota and Woodbine in Canada also contribute important stakes to a full weekend of racing fun.
Start the enjoyment with:
Saratoga
The 147th running of the Travers Stakes, the "Midsummer Derby", is the traditional highlight of the Spa season. This year, some of the "supporting" races on the Saturday card are strong enough to rival the Travers for attention.
The $1.25 million Grade I Travers could help sort things out among the male 3-year-olds as the field includes the second- and third-place finishers from the Kentucky Derby, Exaggerator and Gun Runner, and the winner and runner-up from the Belmont Stakes, Creator and Destin. Exaggerator, also winner of the Preakness Stakes and the Grade I Haskell, is the 3-1 favorite in a field of 14. The only missing element is Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist. However, the race also could complicate the picture in this division as several other entrants could put their hoof up for consideration for year-end honors. American Freedom was second in the Haskell. My Man Sam could be a live long shot after finishing second in the Grade I Blue Grass and getting a break after his trouble-plagued 14th place showing in the Run for the Roses. Laoban and Governor Malibu were the top two in the Grade II Jim Dandy, the local prep for the Travers. And Connect and Gift Box both have been coming on like gangbusters for hot trainer Chad Brown. While there is no overall Eclipse Award for best 3-year-old, it would take a super performance by Exaggerator to move any of the Travers runners anywhere near the same level of consideration as last weekend's Grade I Alabama winner, undefeated Songbird.
The $750,000 Grade I Personal Ensign for fillies and mares at 9 furlongs has only five entrants. But four of them are Grade I winners and the other has a Grade II on her resume. Curalina is the 9-5 morning-line favorite after a 9 1/4-lengths win in the Grade III Shuvee in the slop on July 31 at the Spa. She also won the Grade I Troienne on a fast strip at Churchill Downs. I'm a Chatterbox and Paid Up Subscriber were 1-2 in the Grade I Delaware Handicap last month. Cavorting and Forever Unbridled were 1-2 in the Grade I Ogden Phipps at Belmont in their last start. None of these is regularly on the lead so it will be interesting to watch the strategy. The winner gets a spot in the Breeders' Cup Distaff thanks to the "Win and You're In" program.
Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint winner Wavell Avenue is the narrow favorite among 10 entered for Saturday's 7-furlongs, $500,000 Grade I Woodford Reserve Ballerina for fillies and mares. Also worth consideration are recent graded stakes winners By the Moon, Paulassilverlining, Sheer Drama, Sarah Sis, Spelling Again, Carina Mia and Haveyougoneaway. Linda Linda makes her second U.S. start after shipping up from Chile, where she was a Grade I winner. This is a "Win and You're In" for November's Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint at Santa Anita.
Mohaymen, a hot Kentucky Derby prospect this spring, cuts back to 7 panels for Saturday's $500,000 Grade I Ketel One King's Bishop for 3-year-olds, facing a dozen rivals. The Tapit colt won his first five starts, including the Fountain of Youth, but has been fourth in each of three succeeding races, including the Florida Derby, the Run for the Roses and the Jim Dandy earlier at Saratoga. The morning-line favorite is Defrong, a Bob Baffert trainee who comes in from California with three straight wins and Mike Smith in the irons -- but also the outside post position. Baffert also brings Jazzy Times, who has won at both Churchill Downs and Del Mar. Summer Revolution is 2-for-2 with excellent speed figures.
Older horses tackle 7 furlongs in the $700,000 Grade I Priority One Jets Forego. The favorites among 12 entrants -- A.P. Indian and Marking -- drew the No. 11 and No. 12 gates and both will be looking to cross over early and gain position. A.P. Indian beat Marking by a head in the Grade III Belmont Sprint in July, then won the Grade I A. G. Vanderbilt three weeks later at Saratoga. Ready for Rye was third in the Belmont Sprint and could benefit from an early expenditure of effort by the outside duo. Stallwalkin Dude, Limousine Liberal, Catalina Red and Anchor Down are capable of taking part. The race also is a "Win and You're In" for the Breeders' Cup Sprint.
Flintshire stands out in the $1 million, Grade I Longines Sword Dancer at 1 1/2 miles on the turf. The 5-year-old son of Dansili won this last year for trainer Andre Fabre, then went on to finish second behind Golden Horn in the Group 1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and second behind Highland Reel in the Grade I Longines Hong Kong Vase. Turned over to Chad Brown and now firmly anchored in New York, he won the Grade I Manhattan and Grade II Bowling Green earlier this season -- the latter in preference to shipping to the Grade I Arlington Million, where he likely would have been the favorite. Grand Tito and Twilight Eclipse, the second- and third-place finishers in the Bowling Green, are back for another try. Money Multiplier has been hot but hasn't yet faced Flintshire. The race is a "Win and You're In" for the Breeders' Cup Turf, where Flintshire finished second two years ago to Main Sequence, beaten 1/2 length in a tight stretch battle.
The Saturday card concludes with an emotional renewal of the Ballston Spa, a Grade II worth $400,000 with fillies and mares going 1 1/16 miles on the turf. The emotion is provided by Lady Eli, undefeated in six starts in 2014 and 2015 but nearly laid low by life-threatening foot and hoof issues after winning the Grade I Belmont Oaks Invitational on the Fourth of July 2015. She has been nursed back to health and her regular pilot, Irad Ortiz Jr. will be up for trainer Chad Brown. Seven rivals include the outstanding Miss Temple City, winner of the Grade I Makers 46 Mile at Keeneland a valiant fourth in the Group 2 Duke of Cambridge Stakes at Royal Ascot and fourth, beaten just a neck, in the Grade I Diana in her last outing. The pace scenario could have Miss Temple City getting the first run to the late lead with Lady Eli trying to make up ground late.
Also, Friday is New York Showcase Day at Saratoga, with six stakes for state-breds.
Finally, if you can't get to Upstate New York, Horse Racing Radio Network will have live coverage of the Travers right from trackside with Mike Penna, Jude Feld and company. Jude's thoughts on the card are at www.popejude.com and well worth a look.
There's no shortage of action elsewhere.
Del Mar
Masochistic is the 4-5 pick on the morning line for Saturday's $200,000 Grade II Pat O'Brien Stakes, a 7-furlongs event that's a "Win and You're In" for the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. The 6-year-old Sought After gelding got a long break after finishing 14th in last year's Breeders' Cup Sprint at Keeneland, then came back with a sharp win last month at Santa Anita for trainer Ron Ellis. He turned in a sparkling workout from the gate on Sunday at Del Mar, going 5 furlongs in 58 3/5 seconds. Vyjack, Indexical, Cautious Giant and Outside Nashville make up the balance of the field.
Three-year-old fillies will go 1 mile on the main track in Sunday's $100,000 Grade III Torrey Pines Stakes. This got eight takers, including the undefeated Enola Gray.
Woodbine
Saturday's feature is the $150,000 (Canadian) Grade III Seaway Stakes for fillies and mares at 7 furlongs on the all-weather course. Six are entered with Elusive Collection and Midnight Miley the favorites on the morning line.
Monmouth Park
A well-balanced field of six is set for Saturday's $100,000 Grade III Philip H. Iselin Stakes. Watershed, a Godolphin-owned, 4-year-old son of Bernardini, is the 8-5 morning-line favorite from the outside gate.
Canterbury Park
Saturday's $200,000 Mystic Lake Derby attracted a field of nine with trainer Bernie Flint shipping in One Mean Man as the morning-line favorite. One Mean Man, based at Churchill Downs, won the Grade III American Derby at Arlington in July, then finished fourth in the Grade I Secretariat Stakes, not far behind three tough rivals. The race is 1 mile on the turf -- shorter than One Mean Man faced in the Chicago heats.
Some races already in the books:
Saratoga
Mr Maybe, the odds-on favorite, saved ground early in Wednesday's $100,000 John's Call Stakes, came out and moved up on the turn and got by the leaders in the lane to win by 2 1/4 lengths. My Afleet was second, 1/2 length in front of Renown. Mr Maybe, a 5-year-old Ghostzapper gelding, ran 1 5/8 miles on firm turf in 2:39.21 with Irad Ortiz Jr. in the irons, clearly enjoying the class drop after finishing seventh in the Grade I United Nations in his previous outing. The win was trainer Chad Brown's 1,000th.
"It seems like not long ago I wasn't even in training," Brown said. "I was just in the picnic area with my parents ... I'm a lucky guy. I love getting up and coming to work every day."
Rachel's Temper settled at the rear of the field and saved ground down the backstretch in Monday's $100,000 Summer Colony Stakes for fillies and mares, advanced around the leaders heading in to the lane and rallied willingly to win by 1 1/2 lengths. Tiger Ride was second, Sweetgrass finished third and the favorite, Eskenformoney, settled for fourth more than 15 lengths farther back. Rachel's Temper, a 5-year-old Flatter mare, ran 9 furlongs on a fast track in 1:50.31 with Joel Rosario up.
Del Mar
Soi Phet took the lead at the top of the lane in the Wednesday's $75,000 first division of the Harry F. Brubaker Stakes and got away to win by 2 1/4 lengths over Solid Wager with Grazen Sky third. Soi Phet, an 8-year-old Tizbud gelding, ran 1 mile on a fast track in 1:35.05 with Kent Desormeaux riding. It was his second win from his latest three starts after a long drought.
Magic Mark led from the start in Wednesday's $75,000 Harry F. Brubaker Stakes and, once clear of early pressure, ran on to a 2 1/4-lengths victory. Songforjohnmichael was second, another 2 1/4 lengths in front of Avanti Bello. The favorite, Conquest Cobra, checked in fourth. Magic Mark, a 6-year-old Benchmark gelding, ran 1 mile on a fast track in 1:35.55 with Drayden Van Dyke in the irons.
Indiana Grand
Success Is Racing stalked the pace through the first half of Wednesday's $100,000 William Henry Harrison Stakes for Indiana-breds, took charge and went on to win by 1 1/4 lengths over Operation Stevie. Still Chief was a neck farther in arrears in third. Success Is Racing, a 6-year-old gelding by Major Success, ran 6 furlongs on a sealed track listed as good in 1:10.29 under Eduardo Perez.
Joyous Lady rallied to the lead at the 3/8 pole in Wednesday's $100,000 Shelby County Stakes for state-bred fillies and mares and edged clear, winning by 4 1/4 lengths. Hay Little Bit and Short and Sassy filled the trifecta slots. Joyous Lady, a 4-year-old daughter of Kela, got 6 furlongs on the good track in 1:10.90 with Thomas Pompell up.
Delaware Park
Mister Nofty showed the way in Wednesday's $50,000 Grover Buddy Delp Memorial for 3-year-olds and held off the favorite, Doctor Mounty, at the end by a neck. Pizmo Time closed sharply to get show money. Mister Nofty, a Scat Daddy colt, ran 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:43.02 with Brian Pedroza up.
Hastings
Victress rallied from last of six to win Monday's $50,000 (Canadian) Hong Kong Jockey Club Handicap for 3-year-old fillies by 3 lengths over Princess O'Prado. The odds-on favorite, C U at Eau Claire, finished third. Victress, a Kentucky-bred daughter of Include, ran 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:46.10 with Armando Perez in the irons. It was only her second career start, following a second-place finish in a maiden event two weeks previous to the HKJC Handicap.
Opportunistic outfinished Silvertown by 1/2 length in Monday's $50,000 (Canadian) Sir Winston Churchill Derby Trial Handicap in a rematch of the July 31 Emerald Downs Derby. Stanz in Command was the best of the local contingent, finishing third, another 1/2 length in arrears. Opportunistic, a Sky Mesa gelding, ran 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:46.07 for jockey David Lopez. Opportunistic, trained by Troy Taylor, posted his third straight win.
