Winner's Circle - Travers boasts largest field since 1990

Twelve horses hit the entry box on Wednesday and in the mix is something for everyone. The nation’s leading trainer, Steve Asmussen, will tighten the girth on the favorite. His multiple stakes-winning Pyro was given morning-line odds of 7-2. Pyro was a closing second in the Jim Dandy in his last out. Two sons of 2-year-old champion Macho Uno (by Travers winner Holy Bull) figure closely in the odds. Harlem Rocker from the Pletcher barn is 4-1 and Jim Dandy winner Macho Again is 6-1. The past three Travers winners have come into the race off a win in the Jim Dandy. That’s a streak West Point Stables and Dallas Stewart would like to see continued.

Mambo in Seattle from the Neil Howard barn carries odds of 5-1. He’s a winner at the meet and has been working really well. Zito’s Belmont winner Da’ Tara is one of three in the race for that trainer, all owned by Robert LaPenta. The threesome will run uncoupled through a New York ruling that does not require coupling of entries in million dollar races. Da’ Tara is 8-1, Cool Coal Man 15-1 and Amped is a long-shot at 30-1. Da’ Tara was a fading last in the Jim Dandy but has worked well since. Cool Coal Man was third to Big Brown in the Haskell.

Barclay Tagg has his first ever Travers entrant in Tale of Ekati. Another first was to hear Barclay speak optimistically of a horse’s chances in a race. The odds maker was less optimistic and assigned 20-1 to the colt. Tagg is hot and Prado will know what to do out of the one post. I would be surprised to see this colt remain at double digits come post time.

Bill Mott is looking for his first Travers winner. His entry, Court Vision will have to have some racing luck to get the job done from the 12 post. A Travers win would certainly help to take the sting out of meet which has provided few winners for last year’s leading trainer.

We have two California shippers in Colonel John and Tres Borrachos. Like a lot of people I don’t know how to figure horses coming off synthetic surfaces. On the other hand how do you not consider a horse like Colonel John? He has heart, breeding and he knows how to win races. Garrett Gomez is a money rider. My advice is to not ignore this colt. If you have another hand you will not want to disregard that Tres Borrachos beat Colonel John last time out.

Tizbig was a surprise entry from the H. Allen Jerkens barn. Like Colonel John and Da’ Tara, Tizbig is a son of leading sire Tiznow. He breaks from the 4 hole with Cornelio Velasquez aboard. Tizbig will come into the race off only six days rest. Who’s to argue with “The Chief”? His reputation for upsets is legendary. This horse has speed and he breaks right next to Da’ Tara. Without another speed horse, Da’ Tara may have planned to take the lead, different tactics may be employed now.

The three-year-old division has given us a lot to talk about all season and there is sure to be no lull in the conversation on Saturday. Big Brown has stayed south and plans to go to Monmouth for a specially developed turf race there. When all is said and done, it’s possible that the warriors coming off grade 1’s and the dirt at Saratoga may have a voice when awards are distributed at year’s end. Such has been the case before.