For Preakness winner Shackleford, Haskell Invitational hero Coil and Belmont Stakes victor Ruler On Ice, Saturday’s 142nd running of the $1 million Travers at Saratoga Race Course is a golden opportunity to grab control of the wide-open 3-year-old division with a second Grade 1 victory. For six others, the 1 ¼-mile (2000m) race offers the chance to become part of the mix for year-end championship honors. IHS selections are 7 Coil (3/1 ML)- 2 Rattlesnake Bridge (8/1)- 9 Stay Thirsty (5/2f); 5 Malibu Glow and 4 Ruler On Ice for exotics. Shackleford is ranked 6th. #3Moonshine Mullin & #9 Stay Thirsty look to be the logical pace makers, and i am expecting Martin Garcia to have Coil (B.Baffert) stalking and finishing too strong, although this is his frist race beyond 1&1/8 mi (1800). IHS indicates the Alabama for 3f was a bit stronger on paper.
THE TRAVERS, also known as “The Mid-Summer Derby,” is the oldest stakes race for three-year-olds in the United States and the highlight of the Saratoga meeting. The race is named for the first president of Saratoga Race Course, Mr. William R. Travers, who won its inaugural running in 1864, with a horse called Kentucky. THE TRAVERS was run at Belmont Park in 1943, 1944, and 1945. Not run in 1896, 1898, 1899, 1900, 1911, and 1912. Run at a mile and three quarters prior to 1890; a mile and a half in 1890, 1891, and 1892; a mile and a furlong in 1895, 1901, 1902, and 1903. Trial By Jury finished first in 1915, but was disqualified and placed last. Run Dusty Run finished first in 1977 but was disqualified and placed second. Affirmed finished first in 1978 but was disqualified and placed second. Run as the Travers Midsummer Derby from 1927 to 1932.
Uncle Mo returns in the The KING'S BISHOP, named for Craig F. Cullinan Jr.'s colt of the same name. He was purchased as a yearling for $72,000 at the Keeneland Summer sales. As a three-year-old, King's Bishop won seven of his 15 starts, including stakes victories in the Pontiac Grand Prix and Michigan Mile for earnings of $203,742.The King’s Bishop was not run in 1986. The BALLERINA was named for the inaugural winner of the Maskette in 1954. Ballerina was owned by Howell E. Jackson.
Tomorrow is the PERSONAL ENSIGN. The PERSONAL ENSIGN is named after the undefeated filly that was owned and bred by Ogden Phipps. Personal Ensign was a remarkable undefeated 13-for-13 in her career, becoming the first major horse in over 80 years to accomplish such a feat. Her career ended with a victory in the 1988 Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Churchill Downs. Other stakes won by her included the Beldame (1987 and 1988), Whitney Handicap (1988), Maskette (1988), Hempstead (1988), Shuvee Handicap (1988), Rare Perfume (1987), and Frizette (1986). She was named champion older filly or mare for 1988. The PERSONAL ENSIGN was run as the John A. Morris Handicap until 1997 and prior to that the John A. Morris was run as the Firenze Handicap until 1985. Run at Jamaica prior to l958; at Belmont Park in l975; at Aqueduct from 1960 to 1974 and from 1976 to 1985. Run at a mile and a sixteenth from l948 to l950, and in l958; at a mile in l960 and l96l; at one mile and three-eighths in l975; at one mile and an eighth from 1976 through 1994; and at one mile and a quarter from 1995 to the present. Run on the turf course from l972 to l975. Run in two divisions in l972 and l974. The 1988 edition was originally scheduled for August 28. It was rescheduled to August 29 due to severe thunderstorms. Run for purse money only on August 29, l988.
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