Happy Travers Day! 

This is an excellent renewal of the Mid-Summer Derby. We have four Grade I winners in the field – Dornach, Fierceness, Sierra Leone along with the filly Thorpedo Anna. She will attempt to become the first filly since 1915 to win the Travers – Lady Rotha won it via DQ that year. 

The Sword Dancer comes up a bit short, but that’s a comment on the state of the older male turf division as much as anything. It does include two excellent Godolphin runners – Measured Time and Silver Knott. If they were coupled they would be 2/5 against this group.  

Trivia Question:  Who was the last filly to run in the Travers Stakes? 

Race 9 – Sword Dancer Stakes – Grade I 

One Mile And A Half On The Inner Turf For Four Year Olds And Upward 

1. Solider Rising: Eleven seconds from twenty-one career starts with only four wins for this Clement trainee. His strong late kick means he is always around to pick up the pieces but doesn’t often get the top prize. Was good in behind Silver Knott in the Bowling Green last time but he was no threat to the winner (100 Beyer). That was first off an eight month layoff.  Ran a decent second in this race last year and was third two years ago. Get a piece. 
2. Measured Time: Impressive winner in the Manhattan Stakes in his first stateside start as he was up on the pace for the entire race and kept finding  (104 Beyer). Has won six of eight career starts and now stretches out to twelve furlongs. Likely pace setter and William Buick crosses the pond for the mount. Win candidate. 
3. Far Bridge: Clement runner was very strong as a three year old but hasn’t quite measured up so far during his four year old campaign. Didn’t run at all last out in the U.N. at Monmouth where he was wide but was a decent in the Manhattan two back (100 Beyer). Needs to improve. 
4. Silver Knott: Has won all three starts this year with the most recent being a great performance in the Bowling Green (103 Beyer) as he took them gate to wire while setting the course record. Two back he showed he doesn’t need the lead as he stalked and then rolled by the leaders in the Man o’ War at the Big A (106 Beyer). Has won at the distance, and retains Prat. Should sit in behind his stablemate then the two of them will sort it out in the lane. The Pick.  
5. Pioneering Spirit: Finished second in the off the turf Lure Stakes three weeks ago. Last win was in October in an off the turf allowance race (90 Beyer). Was a distant third in this race two years ago. Irad picks up the mount. Passing. 
6. Grand Sonata: Just missed in the U.N. (98 Beyer) where he came from well off of it and just missed by a nose. Hasn’t won in a year since he beat a conditional allowance field here at the Spa. Underneath in exotics.

Picks 4-2-1-6 

 

 

Race 13 – Travers Stakes – Grade I 

One Mile and One Quarter on the Dirt for Three Year Olds 

1. Thorpedo Anna: Has dominated the fillies with wins in the Kentucky Oaks, Acorn, and CCA Oaks. Now the presumptive three year old filly champion takes on the boys. She’ll establish position from this post and I think her presence will ensure a hot pace as the colts can’t let her get loose. She isn’t just running for a check. They entered her to win and make history. If that means the pace gets too hot and she fades, so be it. But she’s going. Hits the board.
2. Sierra Leone: Deep closer comes in off a second in the Jim Dandy behind Fierceness (102 Beyer). He’s talented, but has had a hard time keeping in straight in the lane. If he puts it all together he can win. Inside post will help as Prat will stick to the rail and there is a ton of speed in here so the race setup suits him. Is today the day? Yes, it is. The Pick.
3. Unmatched Wisdom: The “Other Chad” won the Curlin as he wired the field (99 Beyer).  That was the third straight win to start his career. He isn’t entered here as a  rabbit for Sierra Leone as some have suggested, but this one will help ensure a strong pace which should benefit his stablemate. Speed figs are right there but this is a pretty salty field. Possible at a price.
4. Corporate Power: Stalker type couldn’t run down Unmatched Wisdom in the Curlin Stakes (97 Beyer). Two sharp works leading into this. Castellano has won a record seven Travers Stakes. So that alone should make you look twice at this one. Needs to take a step forward.
5. Batten Down: Winner of the Ohio Derby came back and ran third in the Jim Dandy (93 Beyer).  All three of his wins have come on the front end. But I don’t think he is fast enough to obtain a clear lead today which will compromise him. Looking elsewhere.
6. Honor Marie: Best performance of the year was in the Louisiana Derby where he came from the back of the pack to lose by a length.  To win he will have to pass them all and he hasn’t shown he can as a three year old. Needs a pace melt down. Underside of Supers.
7. Dornach: Jumped into contention for divisional honors with wins in the Belmont (101 Beyer) and the Haskell (103 Beyer). In both wins he was up on the lead for the duration. He should go to the front again, but he’ll have company today and will be under pressure. Won the Belmont Stakes over this track at today’s ten furlongs. Gutsy horse. Dangerous.
8. Fierceness: His in/out pattern continued in the Jim Dandy where was on his game and outran a strong Sierra Leone (103 Beyer). Runs today in less than a month after his connections stated that they thought he ran better with more time between starts. Does he want a mile and a quarter? Might be the most talented horse, but there is too much uncertainty to endorse. Use defensively. 

Picks 2-1-7-3 

 

Trivia Answer: The last filly to contest the Travers was Wonder Gadot in 2018 for Mark Casse where she tracked the leaders but faded to last. Only three other fillies have run in the Travers since 1915: Davona Dale in 1979 (4th), Chris Evert in 1974 (3rd) and Cicada in 1961 (last).