8/27/22

  10  SAR    The Travers (GI)

    $1,250.000   3yo       1 1/4m Dirt         122lbs

A great race was expected and that’s just what we got in Saturday’s The Travers (GI), here at The Spa.  Mb Stables was having a great day, here in up-state NY, and it just got a bit better as Individuation continued his fantastic season, closing like a freight train while taking this prestigious race by a half length, getting the mile and a quarter distance in 2:00.85.  Mr Pancake, dismissed at nearly 13/1 odds took the runner-up spot, and truly looked to have this one in the bank when they turned for home… but, it just was not meant to be.  Gigabyte gave another fantastic effort to secure the third spot, a half length in fort of Ocean Of Wisdom, in fourth.  Eight lengths covered the field in this one. 

Mr Pancake set the pace in the early stages with Ocean Of Wisdom and Rudy Is With Me using their inside position to keep the heat on.  Gigabyte, Positive Id, Angel Dust, Individuation and Changing Times made up the early mid-pack grouping, with All Take, System Shock, The Martian and Gas Lighting reserved off of the early pace.

Midway down the backside, Mr Pancake had a comfortable lead and he went the first half mile in :47.53.  Not much had changed behind him as Rudy Is With Me continued to track, Ocean Of Wisdom behind that one, then Gigabyte, Changing Times and Angel Dust from the far outside.  Individuation between horses, Positive Id between horses and then back to the trailing quad of All Take, Gas Lighting, System Shock and The Martian.

Moving into the lane, six panels in 1:11.13 and the mile in 1:35.35, this was looking like a one horse race as Mr Pancake was now cruising on the lead with nothing really looking like they wanted to go with him.  Rudy Is With Me still second but looking a bit tired, as Ocean Of Wisdom and Gigabyte were in line with that one.  Individuation just behind that trio and starting to show some life, Positive Id from the rail, Angel Dust in the clear from the outside, Changing Time back towards the inside, then the trailers, All Take, System Shock, Gas Lighting and The Martian.

Down the stretch and inside the final sixteenth, Mr Pancake was wanting the wire to get to him as fast as it could… Individuation had a head of steam and was moving closer with every stride.  Gigabyte trying to make a race out of it, as was Ocean Of Wisdom, but this was a two horse race that in the blink of an eye it was a one horse race as Individuation rolled right on past and went on to win by a widening half length.  Mr Pancake continued on gamely to take the second spot.  It was a length back to Gigabyte in third, another half length to Ocean Of Wisdom in fourth.  The Martian was fifth, taking a photo over Rudy Is With Me in sixth, System Shock seventh.  A half length to Angel Dust in eighth, Positive Id a head back in ninth, All Take tenth, Changing Times eleventh and Gas Lighting closed this one out. 

Individuation is a 3yo gray gelded son of Jung – Dawning Early Grey, by Dawning, and he was bred in Fla by Patterson Stables.  Acquired by Mb Stables in Dec of 2021 for $500.000, this was his fifth win from nine starts and he has lifetime earnings of $2,260.640.  Congrats to the Connections! 

$2 Mutuel Prices:

Track: Fast            Time: :47²  1:11   1:35¹  2:00⁴
$1 Exacta: 5 – 11 Paid 66.80             $1 Trifecta: 5 – 11 – 6 Paid 1,514.00
Scratched: None

Individuation broke in hand and settled mid-pack while unhurried 3p, moved to 2p for the run down the backside, then switched back to 3p looking for room around the far turn, split horses at the sixteenth pole moving up to engage the leader, pulled away late, won driving.  Mr Pancake broke alertly and set the pace into the lane, opened a clear lead at the furlong pole, rival ran him down inside the final sixteenth, good effort.  Gigabyte forwardly placed throughout, no excuse.  Ocean Of Wisdom just in behind the pace to the furlong marker, flattened out.  The Martian trailed, best foot too late closing a late gap.  Rudy Is With Me just behind the leader to mid-way down the lane, tired.  System Shock rated well back, passed tiring rivals inside.  Angel Dust wide trip cost better finish.  Positive Id ground saving trip, some early speed, tired.  All Take was not a factor.  Changing Times showed speed to the far turn, tired.  Gas Lighting was never involved.

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES