Saratoga can boast of many things, but one of the most impressive
statistics is that the Travers Stakes, at 140 years of age, is the
oldest stakes race in American Thoroughbred racing.
The home of the Travers, of course, is the Saratoga Race Course and the meet here: this year marks the 141st year of racing on Union Avenue. And the Shadwell Travers was begun just one year after the founding of the legendary racetrack. That a stakes race would be instituted only one year into the existence of a new racing organization was history-making: that said stakes race would still be a beloved tradition and object of year-round anticipation, 140 years later, is nothing short of monumental.
The horses who come to run at Saratoga are among the best in the world. From the first day of racing in July until Labor Day's farewell races, the sport here in Saratoga is second-to-none. The Saratoga meet is not only the oldest but also the most prestigious in the country, boasting that the greatest horses come here to test their mettle. The meet is referenced by international visitors as the greatest in the world. The six weeks of glory here are the highlight of every year for racing fans, for nowhere else on Earth can a fan be guaranteed a glimpse at the racing stars whose names will become part of racing lore.
The 2009 Shadwell Travers will not disappoint: some of the most accomplished, athletic and respected horses in America will put hoof to dirt on Saturday, knowing that one of them will forever be immortalized as the Travers Winner. The million-dollar purse isn't the only brass ring offered on this merry-go-round: the honor of being the winner of America's Summer Derby, of winning the oldest stakes race in America, is every bit as enticing a lure as the $600,000 awarded the horse who finishes first.
This year's line-up includes three-year-old stars whose racing records and raw athletic ability mark them--only seven horses could step up to the plate. Seven horses, seven warriors of impressive achievement, will take to the track on Saturday and do battle with all the world watching.
[Many hoped that Rachel Alexandra would join that stellar throng, but her connections wisely chose to place her instead in next Saturday's Woodward Stakes. Mine That Bird had epiglottal surgery this week, and it was assumed that he'd bounce back in time for Saturday's meeting of gladiators. But the Kentucky Derby winner isn't quite ready to race, and the sport is always better off with athletes whose connections make decisions that are in the best interest of the horse.
This year's Shadwell Travers will feature the talents of Hold Me Back in post position 1. Owned by WinStar Farm and trained by Bill Mott, ridden by Julien Leparoux, the Giant's Causeway son seeks his first win on dirt. His previous three victories were on artificial surfaces: Arlington Park, Keeneland and Turfway Park. His chances are as good as any other, for two reasons; he likes the dirt at Saratoga, as evidenced by his solid workouts. Hole #2 will be filled by Charitable Man, a strong, speedy son of the great Lemon Drop Kid. The McLaughlin-trained is owned by Mr. and Mrs. William K. Warren, Jr., and ridden by Ramon Dominguez--and if his recent workout in prep for the race is any indicator, the Man is ready to take the day. He worked a bullet 47.45 on August 21, the fastest of 24 at the distance. PP 3 is Warrior's Reward, a son of very-hot stallion and Champion, Medaglia d'Oro. Ian Wilkes trained the horse whose owner, A. Steven Miles, Jr., wisely put him in a seven-furlong allowance on May 1st at Churchill Downs. Their faith was rewarded when their athlete beat Munnings in a fast race that established the horse as an upper-echelon competitor. The talented Calvin Borel rides Warrior's Reward on Saturday. Quality Road, the favorite, will race from PP 4. Todd Pletcher now trains the horse who was originally taught everything he knows by James Jerkens before owner Edward P. Evans switched barns. John Velazquez, Jr., Pletcher's team rider, will mount the talented horse who seems prepared for anything that's thrown at him. Our Edge is one of the longshots, but trainer Nick Zito knows that he has a top performer here. The horse, owned by Robert V. LaPenta and ridden by leading rider Alan Garcia is by The Cliff's Edge, a monster on the track and in the coffers. Belmont Stakes winner, Summer Bird, gets the #6 hole. The Bird firmly established himself when he won the Belmont by 2 3ΒΌ4 lengths--in only his fifth career start. Owned by Kalarikkal and Vilasini Jayaraman; trained by Tim Ice and ridden by Kent Desormeaux, Summer Bird is a favorite, another great son of Marylou Whitney's Birdstone, who beat Smarty Jones in his Triple Crown attempt. Stonestreet has a big horse in Kensei, who rounds out the field in PP 7. The son of Mr. Greeley, Kensei has beaten Warrior's Reward twice, encouraging the team of Steve Asmussen and Hall of Fame jockey, Edgar Prado to shoot for Shadwell Travers victory.
Whomever wins the Shadwell Travers on Saturday, August 29th, will go home with accolades and large sums of money--but far more than that, they will return to their shedrow knowing that they beat some of the most accomplished horses in the United States, whose collective pedigrees and jarring upsets kept most other comers in their home barns. Shadwell Travers Day will, once again, offer racing thrills and the sense that Something Special Happened Today--and the backs of the seven horses in the contest are all strong enough to carry the hopes of thousands of fans, and the dreams of an entire sport.
The horses who come to run at Saratoga are among the best in the world. From the first day of racing in July until Labor Day's farewell races, the sport here in Saratoga is second-to-none. The Saratoga meet is not only the oldest but also the most prestigious in the country, boasting that the greatest horses come here to test their mettle. The meet is referenced by international visitors as the greatest in the world. The six weeks of glory here are the highlight of every year for racing fans, for nowhere else on Earth can a fan be guaranteed a glimpse at the racing stars whose names will become part of racing lore.
The 2009 Shadwell Travers will not disappoint: some of the most accomplished, athletic and respected horses in America will put hoof to dirt on Saturday, knowing that one of them will forever be immortalized as the Travers Winner. The million-dollar purse isn't the only brass ring offered on this merry-go-round: the honor of being the winner of America's Summer Derby, of winning the oldest stakes race in America, is every bit as enticing a lure as the $600,000 awarded the horse who finishes first.
This year's line-up includes three-year-old stars whose racing records and raw athletic ability mark them--only seven horses could step up to the plate. Seven horses, seven warriors of impressive achievement, will take to the track on Saturday and do battle with all the world watching.
[Many hoped that Rachel Alexandra would join that stellar throng, but her connections wisely chose to place her instead in next Saturday's Woodward Stakes. Mine That Bird had epiglottal surgery this week, and it was assumed that he'd bounce back in time for Saturday's meeting of gladiators. But the Kentucky Derby winner isn't quite ready to race, and the sport is always better off with athletes whose connections make decisions that are in the best interest of the horse.
This year's Shadwell Travers will feature the talents of Hold Me Back in post position 1. Owned by WinStar Farm and trained by Bill Mott, ridden by Julien Leparoux, the Giant's Causeway son seeks his first win on dirt. His previous three victories were on artificial surfaces: Arlington Park, Keeneland and Turfway Park. His chances are as good as any other, for two reasons; he likes the dirt at Saratoga, as evidenced by his solid workouts. Hole #2 will be filled by Charitable Man, a strong, speedy son of the great Lemon Drop Kid. The McLaughlin-trained is owned by Mr. and Mrs. William K. Warren, Jr., and ridden by Ramon Dominguez--and if his recent workout in prep for the race is any indicator, the Man is ready to take the day. He worked a bullet 47.45 on August 21, the fastest of 24 at the distance. PP 3 is Warrior's Reward, a son of very-hot stallion and Champion, Medaglia d'Oro. Ian Wilkes trained the horse whose owner, A. Steven Miles, Jr., wisely put him in a seven-furlong allowance on May 1st at Churchill Downs. Their faith was rewarded when their athlete beat Munnings in a fast race that established the horse as an upper-echelon competitor. The talented Calvin Borel rides Warrior's Reward on Saturday. Quality Road, the favorite, will race from PP 4. Todd Pletcher now trains the horse who was originally taught everything he knows by James Jerkens before owner Edward P. Evans switched barns. John Velazquez, Jr., Pletcher's team rider, will mount the talented horse who seems prepared for anything that's thrown at him. Our Edge is one of the longshots, but trainer Nick Zito knows that he has a top performer here. The horse, owned by Robert V. LaPenta and ridden by leading rider Alan Garcia is by The Cliff's Edge, a monster on the track and in the coffers. Belmont Stakes winner, Summer Bird, gets the #6 hole. The Bird firmly established himself when he won the Belmont by 2 3ΒΌ4 lengths--in only his fifth career start. Owned by Kalarikkal and Vilasini Jayaraman; trained by Tim Ice and ridden by Kent Desormeaux, Summer Bird is a favorite, another great son of Marylou Whitney's Birdstone, who beat Smarty Jones in his Triple Crown attempt. Stonestreet has a big horse in Kensei, who rounds out the field in PP 7. The son of Mr. Greeley, Kensei has beaten Warrior's Reward twice, encouraging the team of Steve Asmussen and Hall of Fame jockey, Edgar Prado to shoot for Shadwell Travers victory.
Whomever wins the Shadwell Travers on Saturday, August 29th, will go home with accolades and large sums of money--but far more than that, they will return to their shedrow knowing that they beat some of the most accomplished horses in the United States, whose collective pedigrees and jarring upsets kept most other comers in their home barns. Shadwell Travers Day will, once again, offer racing thrills and the sense that Something Special Happened Today--and the backs of the seven horses in the contest are all strong enough to carry the hopes of thousands of fans, and the dreams of an entire sport.
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