The Travers – Grade I
1 1/4 Mile Dirt Stake Purse $1,250.000 Open 3 Year Olds.
The late withdrawal of Fawkes left this race at the mercy of Extreme Jet, and now the expected clash for the three-year-old championship may have to wait for the BC. This is how the field ended up in the biggest prize of the day:
1st Extreme Jet Mb Stables Velazquez J R
The last time this one went to a stalking position was in the Preakness, where he famously failed to take the second leg of a Triple Crown where he won the other two legs. Today however, there were to be no upsets and just a look at the split times throws more mystery as to why he failed in the Preakness. It was in the end a facile win coming home a comfortable length clear in a race where he looked clearly the best, and whilst Fawkes still remains at 2-1 in their meetings, it would take a clear-cut loss to that horse to see Extreme Jet not taking three-year-old male of the year.
2nd Without Warning TwinTowersRacing Franco M
Got within a head of Extreme Jet in The BEL, so he was clearly the only real danger on form, but today he was beaten a length. The Risen Star winner has had a great year and has now been second in three grade one races, so you can hardly say the trainer will be disappointed, but it is often frustrating with these types as they go through their three-year-old season getting beaten by the same handful of horses. There is no doubt he has a big win in him, but he will have to wait a little while longer for his day to come.
3rd Obi Wan Mb Stables Gaffalione T
This horse led up the BEL field in 47 and 1 but today chose a stalk position in the first half of 47 and 2 as once again the two wide gates went to the front in what is a very common HRP race pattern. The trip was always the main concern for me, and sure enough, he once again found the last furlong too tough, ending up a very good third but still not seeing the race out as well as the first two.
4th Burger King Team 7 Illusions Lezcano J
Went to the lead, dare I say it, with the aid of the wide gate speed push but could never set up the sort of advantage he needed as the two wide gates ended cutting each other’s throats. The first two here were superior on form, so I don’t think this result would have been much different had he taken the lead on his own, and whilst fourth maybe wasn’t the result the trainer had hoped for, it was probably the best he could achieve. Still lightly raced, though I am pretty sure there will be a good win in him.
Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES