Travers Day Comes Up Sloppy

Saratoga Race Course

A sloppy track and soft turf course is what greets the 140th running of the $1 Million Grade I Travers Stakes for three year olds to be run over the main track at 1 1/4 miles today at Saratoga. A solid under card is featured on Travers Day including a $1 Million guranteed all graded stakes Pick 4. Lets see what we can do to help you cash in.

$200,000 Grade 2 Balston Spa Handicap - 1 1/16 miles Mellon Turf Course

Horses To Watch for the Balston Spa

Rutherienne - Post 1 - M/L 5/2 - Garcia / Clement
My Princess Jess - Post 2 - M/L 5/1 - C. Velasquez / Tagg
Closeout - Post 3 - M/L 8/1 - Albarado / Proctor
Cocoa Beach - Post 7 - M/L 2/1 - Dominguez / bin Suroor

$300,000 Grade 1 Ballerina - 7 Furlongs

Horses To Watch for the Ballerina

Indian Blessing - Post 4 - M/L 8/5 - Johnny V / Baffert
Informed Decision - Post 2 - M/L 2/1 - Leparoux / Sheppard
Music Note - Post 1 - M/L 5/2 - Maragh / bin Suroor

$300,000 Grade 1 Kings Bishop - 7 Furlongs

Horses To Watch for the King's Bishop

Munnings - Post 2 - M/L 2/1 - Johnny V / Pletcher
Big Drama - Post 8 - M/L 3/1 - Coe / Fawkes
Capt. Candyman Can - Post 3 - M/l - 4/1 - Castellano / Wilkes
Vineyard Haven - Post 1 - M/L 7/2 - Garcia / bin Suroor
Everyday Heroes - Post 1A - M/L 7/2 - Prado / McLaughlin

$1 Million Grade 1 140th Travers Stakes - 1 1/4 Miles

This race looked a week ago like a matchup between the winners of all three Triple Crown winners of 2009. Rachel Alexandra will instead go in the Woodward against older horses next week and Mine That Bird had to pass after having throat surgery just 9 days ago. Still, this race has come up with a solid field this year.

Horses To Watch for the Travers

Quality Road
He was the Kentucky Derby favorite prior to being sidelined by a quarter crack. He is 4 for 5 lifetime with four 100+ Beyers. Questions are he has never raced on an off track or around two turns but at his best he wins. Johnny V. rides for Todd Pletcher.

Kensei
Winner of the Jim Dandy here and the Dwyer at Belmont in his last two and Asmussen thinks enough of him to put the big horse (Rachel) on the sidelines today. He is 1 for 2 on wet tracks and 2 for 2 at the Spa. He has a big shot if Quality Road doesn't handle the distance or the off track. Edgar Prado rides for Steve Asmussen.

Summer Bird
He won the Belmont and ran second to Rachel in the Haskell on an off track. His sire Birdstone won this race in 2004. Kent Desormeaux rides for Tim Ice.

Warrior's Reward
He beat Munnings in an Allowance over an off track at Churchill Downs turning in a 113 Beyer. He ran second to Kensei in the Jim Dandy and third in the Dwyer in his last two but his chances should improve today with this track condition. Calvin Borel rides for Ian Wilkes.