Breeders’ Cup Challenge Day Entries at Santa Anita Park September 27

Posted on Wednesday, September 24th, 2008

SBG Global RacebookJerry and Ann Moss’s Zenyatta and stablemate Tiago will be major players at Santa Anita Park on Saturday, September 27, when the Oak Tree Racing Association presents 6 Grade I stakes races, each with 2008 Breeders’ Cup implications.

Tiago will defend his title against 10 rivals in a wide-open Goodwood Stakes with the 1 1/8 mile event to serve as a final prep for the $5-million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita on October 25, climaxing an expanded Breeders’ Cup program featuring 14 Breeders’ Cup races over 2 days.

First post for the unique 11-race program billed as the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Day is at 12:30 pm. Except the Clement L. Hirsch Turf Championship, winners of the Grade I stakes will be assured a starting spot in the Breeders’ Cup field in their respective Breeders’ Cup events under the event’s “Win and You’re In” program.

Read full story: "Breeders’ Cup Challenge Day Entries at Santa Anita Park September 27"...

Filed under Horse Racing Industry, Horses, Race Tracks News, Santa Anita Track, Stakes Races, USA Horse Racing | No Comments »



Colonel John Wins The $1-Million Travers Stakes at Saratoga Race Course

Posted on Sunday, August 24th, 2008

SBG Global RacebookWinStar Farm’s Colonel John, making only his 2nd start on dirt, got his nose down at the wire after a head-bobbing late stretch duel with Mambo in Seattle at Saratoga Race Course to win Saturday’s 139th running of the $1-million Travers Stakes (G1).

Colonel John ran 1 1/4 miles in 2:03.20 and earned $600,000 for WinStar Farm. The Eoin Harty-trained horse paid $10.40, $5.40 and $4.30. Colonel John had not won a race since taking the Santa Anita Derby in April.

Mambo in Seattle, ridden by jockey Robby Albarado, paid $6.30 and $5.10. Pyro, the favorite in the Travers, finished third in the race for 3-year-olds with jockey Shaun Bridgmohan riding and paid $3.70.

Read full story: "Colonel John Wins The $1-Million Travers Stakes at Saratoga Race Course"...

Filed under Horse Racing Industry, Horses, Race Tracks News, Results & Payouts, Saratoga, Stakes Races, USA Horse Racing | No Comments »



Pyro Installed As Morning Line Favorite In The 2008 Travers Stakes at Saratoga August 23

Posted on Wednesday, August 20th, 2008

Online Horse BettingPyro was installed as the 7-2 morning-line favorite for the $1-million Travers Stakes on August 23 at Saratoga Race Course.

The Steve Asmussen trainee, Pyro, will take on 11 other race horses, including Belmont Stakes winner Da’Tara. Jockey Shaun Bridgmohan will ride Pyro, who will leave from the 11th post.

The entire Travers field from the rail out is Tale of Ekati (20-1), Colonel John (8-1), Da’Tara (8-1), Tizbig (30-1), Macho Again (6-1), Cool Coal Man (15-1), Amped (30-1), Harlem Rocker (4-1), Mambo in Seattle (5-1), Tres Borrachos (15-1), Pyro (7-2) and Court Vision (12-1).

The 2008 Travers Stakes is race 11 of 12 in Saratoga’s August 23 card. Travers post time is 5:45 pm Eastern.

Read full story: "Pyro Installed As Morning Line Favorite In The 2008 Travers Stakes at Saratoga August 23"...

Filed under Horse Racing Industry, Horses, Race Tracks News, Saratoga, Stakes Races, USA Horse Racing | No Comments »



Saratoga Spotlight Shines on Travers Contenders Galore

Posted on Wednesday, August 20th, 2008

Online Horse BettingBy GREG MELIKOV

The 139th Travers Stakes should live up to past classics of the Midsummer Derby at Saratoga on Saturday.

This year’s $1 million edition will feature a full field for the first time in many years. One handicapping point to consider: 71 winners of the Travers scored in previous outings.

Five of the dozen 3-year-olds can match that feat, including likely favorite Macho Again, who worked four furlongs in 50 seconds on Saratoga’s training track.

The son of Macho Uno is coming off a victory in the Jim Dandy. Winners of that Saratoga prep and Monmouth Park’s Haskell Invitational produced a record 12 Travers winners.

Read full story: "Saratoga Spotlight Shines on Travers Contenders Galore"...

Filed under Horse Racing Industry, Horses, Race Tracks News, Saratoga, Stakes Races, USA Horse Racing | No Comments »



Travers Could Attract Larger Field Than Usual

Posted on Wednesday, August 13th, 2008

By GREG MELIKOV

The 139th Travers Stakes could boast double-digit runners for the first time in 15 years since 1993 Kentucky Derby champ Sea Hero roared from back of the pack to defeat 10 challengers.

There could be that many 3-year-olds in the $1 million contest on Aug. 23. Winners of Triple Crown races the past 15 years have done well, winning seven times, including four that scored in the Belmont Stakes.

That’s a good omen for Belmont Stakes winner Da’ Tara, hoping to rebound from a disappointing seventh place finish in the Jim Dandy on July 27. He broke inward, went to the lead, dueled along the rail until the far turn and steadily faded to last, ending up 24 1/4 lengths behind Macho Again after 1 1/8 miles.

While Da’ Tara was capturing the Belmont Stakes, odds-on favorite Big Brown ended up ninth and last. However, he took the Haskell Invitational at Monmouth on Aug. 3 and will go into another race en route to the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

SBG Global Racebook

Read full story: "Travers Could Attract Larger Field Than Usual"...

Filed under Horse Racing Industry, Horses, Race Tracks News, Saratoga, Stakes Races, USA Horse Racing | No Comments »