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 Tacitus on the backside at Saratoga on Friday morning |
The $1.25 million Travers Stakes (G1), the "midsummer Derby" at Saratoga featuring some of the country's best 3-year-olds, celebrates its 150th renewal on Saturday. A field of 12 made final entry for this 1 1/4 mile main track classic headed by 5-2 favorite Tacitus in post 6. In addition, there are six other stakes on the card: The Forego, the Ballerina, The H. Allen Jerkens, the Ballston Spa, the Personal Ensign, and the Sword Dancer. Friday morning was clear and sunny with temperatures starting in the low 60's and warming up to the high 70's later in the day.
Check out photos from Friday morning works below. Click on the small photo to see a larger version.
  Tacitus galloped once around and schooled in the paddock. Garrett O'Rourke, general manager for owner Juddmonte Farms said, "I think that horses from the Unbridled line are pretty unique. They don't like to be stopped where you have to move around. They're better off getting those 12s one following another. If he can get that big line stride going and not get it interrupted, you haven't seen the best Tacitus performance yet and I hope we see it. That's definitely an Unbridled type performance. I think everyone appreciates that when they look at a pedigree and see that you're the first foal out of a champion mare, inbred to Unbridled and by the best dirt stallion around. He physically resembles Unbridled but also same color as Tapit and has a lot of Tapit traits in him. The chances of him becoming a tremendously sought after stallion is something that really excites us."
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  Chess Chief schooled in the paddock. Trainer Dallas Stewart said, "He's an improving horse at this point. His last race was good and I really liked the horse that beat him, Mr. Money. I think he [Mr. Money] is one of the best 3-year-olds in America. Hopefully, that race helped me make my decision and take a shot here. He has been working great. It's a tough race, but it could be a lot tougher. There are a lot of nice horses in this race. My job is to evaluate him and to see if there are a couple of cracks in the race where maybe we can have a chance."
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  Everfast is a 30-1 outsider. Trainer Dale Romans said, "Experience helps in these longer races. There is a lot of pressure, and these horses have been there. Hopefully that will give us an edge over the less-experienced ones. The race looks like it has a lot of speed, and if (Tax goes) to the lead from the outside, it should set up good for us. We're going to make one run, and it will depend on what's going on in front of us. We're going to get him a good, galloping position, get in rhythm, and pick 'em up."
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  Laughing Fox galloped once around on Friday. Owner Alex Lieblong said, "He needs some speed to be able to run them down and I think there will be plenty of speed in this one. He got pinned down a little bit on the rail the first [turn] in the Jim Dandy and had a hard time getting out, and then he finally got out. It's funny, that horse makes up a lot of ground right at the end, like he did at the Preakness, [when] he had to swing so far out there and keep on. He's one of those that just keeps coming."
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 Owendale schooled in the paddock. Trainer Brad Cox said, "I feel he's coming to the Travers like he was coming into the Preakness," trainer Brad Cox said. "The Ohio Derby was good, but I don't think it was his best race, and I mean by the way he was coming into it. He's in a good spot right now. He's on top of it and he looks great. Since the Ohio Derby, we thought we were going to give him a freshening, like we did after the Risen Star (G2) to the Lexington, when he showed us he was a really good 3-year-old. He appreciated that time from February to April, and he's had the same sort of break from the Ohio Derby to this. I think it comes down to who will get the best trip. It's a very competitive group, and there aren't any standouts. That's why there are 12 horses and not eight. But it's a great race, it's awesome to be a part of the race, and I think we have a big shot."
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  The historic and scenic Saratoga grandstand during pre-dawn with the lights turned on and sunrise over the Oklahoma Training Track. |
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