Travers Day

[1hooper]

Just back from The Parting Glass, boys are sitting around the table pouring bourbon. Going to be a long day.

[docd]

Aug 23, 2024 23:53:30 GMT -5 1hooper said:

Just back from The Parting Glass, boys are sitting around the table pouring bourbon. Going to be a long day.

Won't be after you have Three Swallows.

[madameblum]

Doc,  Real nice call on Miss Maximus yesterday !!!  Find some more gems today.

[spiderjohn]

sounds good
wish that I was there!

[ozzy]

Solid card per usual for a great day and glad the weather is cooperating for a change. You folks enjoy!

The MSW as the 7th is a doozy with tons of potential and a great wagering opportunity. No way the 1, Freaky is 10-1. Too much buzz about the horse as many talking for some time but the rail doesn’t help. Not sure he will be favored but no chance of 10-1. The 2 has been working against Dornoch and more than holding his own. This guy is a runner. Bet the 8 first out when he drew the rail, broke slowly, rushed up, and tired. He will fair much better today. The 10 is one I’ve been waiting on. Not sure today is the day and longer is probably better.

The Ballerina is a firecracker as well. Tons of speed signed on and why Vahva should win I do think Scylla could be find her spot at this trip (although I do worry about the quick turnaround after shipping to Del
Mar and back) and don’t discount Chi Town Lady underneath with her wicked late kick if the pace develops as expected.

The Kings Bishop, sorry Jerkins, also a great race which offers tons of value - Book ‘em Danno gets no respect and figures but for me I’ve been high on Timberlake for so long I have to side with him here 2nd off and on the cut back. Domestic Product the most likely for same reasons though and that’s my exacta.

Travers has a good cast - afraid Anna too keen for her own good, Fierceness on his off race pattern. Dornoch, can’t knock but other speed so should set up for Sierra Leone but so have other races. If he doesn’t win today…. Still I want a price so Corporate Power for the win!

[cherokeescot]

I look forward to that MSW on the dirt on Travers Day every year. Usually a very good horse comes out of it. Was there when Uncle Mo won it.

[ozzy]

I was not correct about the MSW. Freaky was not bet down and broke slowly. The other Pletcher was in a battle with the Garigan runner and prevailed as the fav. The Mott closed late into the swift pace after running greenly and should appreciate 2 turns.

[UpInClass]

[mysaladdays]

Biggest heartbreak for me today was Cagliostro (Upstart) (Flatter)(Hard Spun)
in R11 with that bad start was an absolute heartbeaker.

He would have won this race, without a doubt to my mind.... but that bad start had him so far last he never could catch up.

I only bet 3 races today, that one, the Travers, (both wrong) but got Far Bridge in R9--love the pedigree and I kept track of the sire wins at SAR for these longer distances... that English Channel (Smart Strike) is deadly at this distance.   20 Reines , 23b sire, tail female same conduit as Frankel, and a Mr P . / Nuryev pretty nice nick.  I think Clement really "got" this horse, and once it went to Pletcher he couldn't get anything done with this one, then back to Clement and voila. 

[grandemac]

Travers observations

1) Over the years I have seen some of the top race mares ever in person. Dance Smartly, Royal Delta and Beholder being the best of them. They all gave you the impression that you weren’t worthy to be looking at them. They were royalty and they knew it. Thorpedo Anna is quite different. We saw her school in the paddock twice at Saratoga and she exudes a Xena Warrior Princess persona. She is chiseled, hyper fit and gives the impression that she could explode in a burst of energy at any minute. An absolute athlete. She was very impressive in defeat today.

2) I hate horses like Fierceness. Obviously a very talented animal but when he is bad he is awful and good luck trying to figure out when that will be. The post race interview with Johnny V basically said the same thing.

3) Sierra Leone keeps coming up short in these races. His fans will say the lack of a pace duel cost him today. I think he just isn’t quite good enough unless everything goes his way.

4) Dornoch looked like a tired horse today. Maggie commented on how quiet he was in the paddock compared to his earlier races. He also didn’t warm up sharply. It’s possible that they were scared of a speed duel and wanted him to sit off it. Whatever it didn’t work out today.

Fabulous race and come Breeders Cup it will be interesting to see if the filly goes to the classic and if City of Troy and/or Forever Young enter the fray.

[eye123]

en.netkeiba.com/news/news_detail.html?id=1249

[mysaladdays]

Aug 24, 2024 19:41:27 GMT -5 grandemac said:

 They were royalty and they knew it. 

I love that you said this.  I say this all the time ---- all the darn time ----- and so many people laugh at the idea that horses "know who they are and who each other are."

You described her perfectly.  Actually, I liked every darn thing you said in your post, it was so very SPOT ON, in every way!


I am sad about Dornoch. And that he or Thorpedo didn't win the race. 

Can I also add, and it's just a gut feeling, someone can be the GOAT as a trainer, but whatever kismet is needed to figure out a certain horse just doesn't work.   It's a relationship, like any other.  I have thought for a while now, and I know I'm not the only one, that CB is the wrong trainer for Sierra Leone. 

It happens.   No shade on the horse or the trainer......just the combo. 

[shoes]

I was pretty surprised at how strongly Sierra Leone was bet. The will pay to him in the pick 3 pool was 36.50, the next shortest was Thorpedo Anna at 96 and change.

[docd]

Nice day,good times,great friends.What else is there?Oh,the racing,I give it an A. First time I was asked to leave the track.Well, it was late,and getting dark.Steve(Hoops bro)and I hung out spinning yarns until we were asked to get the hell out so they could clean up.
Nice seeing y'all again. Best of luck today.

[eye123]

I believe I asked this before, but has the "blanket" been retired ? Over the years a mainstay here at UIC. (Travers photos from the blanket, with liquid beverages not far away    )

[ozzy]

Anna lost nothing in defeat to be sure. Couldn’t agree more on Fierceness as just not a fan of the horse. Talented obviously but fragile mentally so far (maybe he’s turning the corner) and I expected he will be retired after the year and off to stud to pass on lackluster genetics.

Fairly certain McPeek has already stated no Classic for Anna - it’s the Cotillion at Parx for $1M and then the Distaff.

Not a bad point about SL. Maybe a change is needed as what is being done isn’t working. Either that or the horse A). isn’t anything better than a solid check earner in these big races or B). Needs even more time
to develop which being owned by Coolmore and with that yearling price tag, we know he won’t get

[tenfurlongs]

Aug 25, 2024 9:18:06 GMT -5 eye123 said:

I believe I asked this before, but has the "blanket" been retired ? Over the years a mainstay here at UIC. (Travers photos from the blanket, with liquid beverages not far away    )

Blanket still in action, I’m sitting ten feet away as we speak. I’ll put a picture on the other thread. There is a new blue tarp, which covers real estate, but has no ‘character.’




TW

[eye123]

Aug 25, 2024 11:50:43 GMT -5 tenfurlongs said:

Aug 25, 2024 9:18:06 GMT -5 eye123 said:

I believe I asked this before, but has the "blanket" been retired ? Over the years a mainstay here at UIC. (Travers photos from the blanket, with liquid beverages not far away    )

Blanket still in action, I’m sitting ten feet away as we speak. I’ll put a picture on the other thread. There is a new blue tarp, which covers real estate, but has no ‘character.’




TW

Good to see it's still in service.  Part of the "Saratoga" experience for UIC over the years.

[1hooper]

Starting to catch up from the weekend.
Fierceness ran @ 29 feet more than Anna and Sierra.
Final quarters 25.74 Fierceness, 25.61 Anna, 25.81 Sierra L. Interesting to me.

[mattcoll]

When I was watching the Travers it felt like a replay of this race...



No way in hell was Scat Daddy suddenly going to A) rate and B) get the extra distance.

Oops...jockey just kind of scrubbed on him and he kept going...Pletcher fixed whatever he needed to fix just like he did with Fierceness. If not for that Scat Daddy performance we probably don't ever get Justify. I'll need to make a mental note as the sons of Fierceness stretch out in a few years.

[grandemac]

If the filly had gotten up this might have been interesting. One of these days someone is going to test the whip rules vis a vis a DQ rather than just a fine and suspension. It’s also interesting that Hernandez will serve his suspension on Saratoga closing day Sept. 2 where he doesn’t normally ride anyway.

paulickreport.com/news/horseplayers-category/hernandez-issued-one-day-suspension-for-whip-use-in-travers