G1, Travelers Stakes: Tough field going 10f in New York.

New York (NY) Saturday, August 28, 2021 — 3:00:00 PM EST | Race ID : 2617062
Travelers Stakes
Grade I / Group 1*CPU – Purse : $3,000,000
Restricted to 3 Year Olds
10 Furlongs | ~2000 Meters | One Mile and One Quarter	Fast Dirt

We are headed to New York this week to look at a prestigious race on the card for 3 year olds, the G1, Travelers Stakes which will take place this Saturday afternoon.  We have a full field of fourteen horses and all of them have won at the Graded level except for one that has a Graded Place finish.  All will be looking to add this prestigious win to their résumé and find a trip to the winners circle if they can get to the wire first in this race.  The odds have been set for the morning line and the random post positions have been drawn.  So let us now take a preview of the horses that will be running in this year’s G1, Travelers Stakes in New York as they go out on Saturday to take on this 10 furlong course of which will be listed as Fast Dirt at post time.

1

KEG TAP’D BY KINGS

KY

3G

beerkeg

J Hornibrook

12

3

50%

$1,110,136

136.00

14/1

Breaking from the inside gate we find this Roan Gelding that is a scratch bred (TAPIT x KINGMAMBO x STORM CAT) who has twelve prior starts and that has hit the boards in six of his races.  He is a prior G2 winner from back in February of this season when he got up for the win in the G2, Moises Alou Cap.  He has also placed in several other Graded outings.  His most recent race came on 07/04/2021 when he went out in Ontario to go 9.5 furlongs in the G1, Clerk Of Scales Stakes.  He never found his stride in this race and never found the front as we have seen him do in prior starts.  He lingered way back in this race and was never a factor as he faded in the stretch run to cross the wire in eleventh with a 98 speed rating.  He comes back out here in New York and the owner is calling upon a familiar jockey, J Hornibrook from Vermont to ride in the saddle with his horse.  This jockey will try and get this horse a rebounding trip from his last outing and will most likely try to get him to the front earlier in this race when they break from their gate representing the Drunken Jockeys Club residency.

2

DADS RULE

KY

3M

equistable

N Lawton

7

4

71%

$565,186

148.00

12/1

Next we have this Brown Colt that was sired by Justify who has seven career starts and that has found the boards in five of his races.  His last two races were both ran in Ontario. When he ran 9 furlongs in the G1, The Labatts Ontario Oaks he was never a factor in the race.  But that was not to be the case when he went out for his most recent race in Ontario on 07/04/2021 when he went 9.5 furlongs in the G1, Clerk Of Scales Stakes.  He was on his game that day and we saw him run his kind of race as he closed from five back at the third call to pick off horses in his stretch run and get to the wire first by two and a quarter for the win with a 108 speed rating.  This now G1 winner is coming to New York and his owner has placed the call to jockey, N Lawton who is a top jockey here in New York and a fan favorite.  This horse likes to close late so look for a big stretch run when they turn for home representing the Empire State Racing residency.

3

BOHO THE OX

KY

3G

beerkeg0

R Hansen

11

4

45%

$606,072

152.00

13/1

This is a Bay Gelding that was sired by War Front who in eleven races has found the boards five times.  He is a prior G1 winner and he found that win back in December of last year when he got up for the win in the G1, Movieland Futurity.  This season has not been good to this gelding who has not found a hit on the boards yet this year.  He is looking to change that here in New York.  We most recently saw this horse running on 07/19/2021 when he went out in New Jersey to run 9 furlongs in the G1, Eddie Haskell Stakes.  He stayed close just off the leaders early on, but after the third call he tired and faded way back quickly in this race as he crossed the wire back in a distant eleventh place with a 104 speed rating.  The owner sets his sights on New York for his horse this weekend and is calling in familiar jockey, R Hansen to take the mount up top with his horse again.  This is a very familiar pairing and they look to rebound together after that last outing.  They will come out in the post parade and make their way to their gate representing the Drunken Jockeys Club residency.

4

NYQUIST AT FORTY

KY

3M

elkstables11

A Jolly

8

2

100%

$340,890

77.00

14/1

Here we have a Bay Colt that is a scratch bred (NYQUIST x FORTY NINER x STORM CAT) that has eight prior starts and that has never missed hitting the boards in any of his races.  This colt has been running very well for this owner in his career thus far and we most recently saw him run on 06/12/2021 when he went 8 furlongs in the Norway in the G2, Trial By Night Stakes.  He was all business that day when he broke from the second gate and grabbed the lead quick and made a gate to wire trip to get up for the win by one and three quarters with a 110 speed rating.  He will come back out here in New York on Saturday but will be adding two furlong to the furthest trip we have ever seen him run and he is moving up in Class to run in his first G1 race.  The owner is calling on jockey, A Jolly who is from Louisiana to come in and take the ride up top with his horse.  This horse likes to run up front and that is where I would expect this jockey to place his ride when they break from their post draw to the cheers of an excited crowd.

5

DARK VOODOO

KY

3M

kellygreen

M Henson

10

4

60%

$1,275,080

256.00

8/1

This is a Bay Colt that is a scratch bred (GOOD MAGIC x PIONEEROF THE NILE x GHOSTZAPPER) that in six of his ten starts has found the boards.  He is a prior G1 winner and he found that win back in April of this year when he got up in the G1, Arkansas Juvenile-Derby Lock Prep which earned him a bid to run in the G1, Bluegrass Derby of which he finished in sixth.  This horse last hit the track on 07/04/2021 when he went 9.5 furlongs in the G1, Clerk Of Scales Stakes.  This front runner was on lead when he broke from the gate and held that spot until late in the race. When they turned for home in the final stretch he was run down, but was able to hold on for a third place finish with a 105 speed rating.  He now comes to New York where his owner is calling up jockey, M Henson who is coming in from Vermont to saddle up for the ride.  He will most likely try and put this horse at or near the front quickly when they break from their post draw representing the Empire State Racing residency.

6

MASKED SAINT

KY

3M

massatoga

Z Ayya

13

4

62%

$779,984

150.00

8/1

Here we have a Brown Colt that is a scratch bred (STREET SENSE x SAINT BALLADO x A.P. INDY) that in thirteen career starts has found the boards in eight of his races.  This horse is a prior G2 winner and he found that win back in April of this year when he went 8.5 furlongs in the G2, Heat Less Stakes in Kentucky.  After this race the owner moved his horse up in Class and distance and thus far has not seen success as his horse has finished well back in his three most recent starts.  This colt was most recently seen running on 07/19/2021 in New Jersey when he traveled 9 furlongs in the G1, Eddie Haskell Stakes.  He remained well back during this race and faded in his stretch run to cross the wire in a distant tenth place with a 104 speed rating.  The owner is calling upon jockey, Z Ayya who is a local fan favorite jockey here in New York.  This jockey will be looking to find some extra effort out of his ride when they head out to their post draw representing the Universal Racing Club residency.

7

SEIZE THE WHIP

KY

3M

thethumbhot

L Radzinski

10

4

70%

$410,200

98.00

10/1

This Roan Colt was sired by Carpe Diem that has ten prior starts and that has hit the boards in seven of those races.  He has been running well for his owner this season only missing the boards one time.  But in his most recent start he proved that he is a competitor at the Graded levels.  He went out most recently on 07/04/2021 in Ontario going 9.5 furlongs in the G1, Clerk Of Scales Stakes.  He stayed back during the early running but in his stretch run he showed his power as he picked off horses and weaved his way into a second place finish with a 106 speed rating.  He turns now to come to New York this weekend and the owner is calling in jockey, L Radzinski from Washington to fly in and take the mount up top with his colt.  This horse can run from just off the lead or come from way back to close late.  We will wait and see what kind of ride this jockey will give him when they break from their gate representing the GR Simsters residency.

8

SLASH DOT MURDER

KY

3G

given4

Q Cassell

10

4

60%

$1,168,400

164.00

17/1

This is a Bay Gelding that was sired by Bernardini and in ten prior starts has found the boards in six of his races.  Back in November of the 2020 season this horse found his way to a G2 win when he started here in New York going 9 furlongs in the G2, The Ransom.  In March of this season he finished second in the G1, All Saints Derby-Derby Lock Prep and then ran third in the G1, Bluegrass Derby.  He has had a couple of disappointing starts in his last two trips to the track and we most recently saw him run on 07/11/2021 in Virginia when the owner made a surface change and sent his horse out to the turf to run in the G2, The Colonial Derby.  This 10 furlong trip across the grass was not to the taste for this horse as he finished a distant tenth with a 90 speed rating.  The owner is now sending his horse back to the dirt here in New York where he will going off as the longest choice in the field in the morning line.  The jockey that will take the mount up top in this race will be Q Cassell from Dubai.  They have paired together well in the past across the New York track and they match up together here on Saturday to see if they can get this horse back on the boards in this trip.  They will saddle up in the paddock and come out in the post parade representing the GR Simsters residency.

9

DEMOCRATIC PROCESS

CHI

3M

zenyatta09

D Givins

10

5

60%

$2,531,400

256.00

9/1

This is a Light Grey Colt sired by Constitution that in ten career starts has six hits on the boards.  This horse has shown up well for his owner as he was second in the G1, Corkscrew Stakes-Derby Lock Prep in Kentucky and he found a win in the G1, Middle Jewel Stakes in Maryland.  His most recent trip to the track come on 07/19/2021 when he went 9 furlongs in New Jersey in the G1, Eddie Haskell Stakes of which he finished fourth with a 110 speed rating.  He now comes to New York where the owner has made the call to jockey, D Givins from Kentucky to again come and saddle up with his colt.  This has been a successful pairing in the past and they look to have another good trip here on Saturday.  They will saddle up and head out to their gate draw to the cheers of an excited crowd.

10

SUBTLY STATED

CHI

3M

oats1

X Bader

12

6

58%

$4,694,440

293.00

12/1

Here we have a Bay Colt that was sired by Exaggerator who in twelve prior starts hit the boards in seven of those races.  Back in April he got up to win the G1, Wooden Indian-Derby Lock Prep.  He went on to win the G1, Bluegrass Derby in Kentucky.  After that race his three most recent starts have come with disappointed as he has failed to find a hit on the boards.  His most recent outing came on 07/19/2021 when he ran 9 furlongs in New Jersey in the G1, Eddie Haskell Stakes.  He remained well back in this race and was never a factor when he crossed the wire in ninth with a 106 speed rating.  He is coming into New York as the top money winner in this field, but he is going to need some extra effort and improvement over his last three starts if he is to again find the boards.  To help guild him in this effort the owner is calling in jockey, X Bader to take the ride up top.  They did pair up together in the Wooden Indian successfully and the owner feels bringing him back in could spark some interest in his colt on this trip.  They will saddle up and head out to their post draw representing the Universal Racing Club residency.

11

CASQUES OF MEN

KY

3M

plano9

M Wallace

11

4

55%

$361,020

92.00

11/1

This Brown Colt is a scratch bred (MORE THAN READY x SEATTLE SLEW x DEPUTY MINISTER) who has eleven prior starts and has found a hit on the boards in six of those races.  He got up for a G2 win back in June of this year when he ran 10 furlongs in Ontario in the G2, Princess Cup.  He was then sent back out for his most recent outing in Sweden where he traveled 12 furlongs across an off track in the G3, Derby de Swedish.  He would not have a good day on this trip as he crossed this wet track with added distance.  He failed to fire as we have seen in prior races in the turn for home and remained way back and was never a factor as he crossed the wire in eighth with a 100 speed rating.  The owner is bringing his horse back to New York on Saturday and is decreasing the distance back to 10 furlongs which should help this colt.  The owner is also calling back in a familiar jockey to this horse in M Wallace who is coming in from Colorado to take to the irons and help guild this horse with the attempt to find a rebound trip after that last disappointing outing.  The jockey needs to get this horse back to his late closing running style and find a good kick out of him when they head down the stretch for the wire representing the British and European Racing Club residency.

12

THE FREE WORLD

KY

3M

carsoncity

F Gossett

9

5

89%

$4,404,301

372.00

9/2

This is a Bay Colt that was sired by Empire Maker and that is out of HOF, EOY winning mare, First Degree Bern.  This horse has had a very successful career thus far and in nine starts has hit the boards in eight of his races.  This multiple G1 winner will be going off as your favorite in the morning line.  This season he won the G1, Florida Derby-Derby Lock Prep.  He was second in the G1, Bluegrass Derby.  He then came out for his most recent trip to the track on 07/19/2021 when he went 9 furlongs in the G1, Eddie Haskell Stakes.  He was in fourth at the third call less than two lengths of the lead.  When he turned for home he found a new gear and got to the wire first for the win with a blistering 119 speed rating.  The owner now has his sights set on New York and will be calling in jockey, F Gossett from California who rode this horse in the Eddie Haskell Stakes.  They are looking like a formidable entry in this field and I will look for this horse to close late when they turn for home representing the Northwest Racing Circuit.

13

GOOD JOKE

KY

3M

holdasec

S Tate

10

4

60%

$654,920

108.00

13/1

Here we have a Bay Colt that was sired by Quality Road who in his ten prior starts has found the boards in six of his races.  He is a G2 winner and he found that win back in February of this year when he got up in the G2, Fountain Of Ute in Florida.  He ran third in the G1, Middle Jewel Stakes in Maryland and then went out for his most recent run in Ontario going 9.5 furlongs in the G1, Clerk Of Scales Stakes.  This late closer made a bid down the stretch but he just missed hitting the boards as he crossed the wire in fourth with a 104 speed rating.  He comes to New York looking for a fast pace on Saturday and the owner is calling upon jockey, S Tate from Virginia to come in and saddle up with his colt.  I expect to see this horse making a big closing effort in the stretch run for the wire when they come out representing the Pastures of Green residency.

14

BLYTHENTHEFASTLANE

KY

3G

asmussen

T Ace

11

6

91%

$712,431

190.00

8/1

Breaking from the far outside gate with be this Bay Gelding that was sired by Bernardini who in eleven career starts has found the boards in ten of his races.  His only miss in hitting the boards came in his first race when he went out for a Maiden run, so we will throw that race out.  He is a multiple G2 winner and is currently on a hot streak with three wins in a row in his three most recent starts.  This season he was third in the G1, Arkansas Juvenile-Derby Lock Prep.  He got a up to win the G2, The Bluebonnet in Texas. And then he came out for his most recent trip to the track on 07/24/2021 going 9 furlongs here in New York in the G2, Shiny Gem Stakes.  He stayed close and just off the lead early in this race, but by the third call he had taken control and went on to get up the win by a half length with a 112 speed rating.  The owner is bringing his horse back out here in New York on Saturday looking for his fourth win in a row.  This horse likes to run up front and a I see a battle brewing for the early lead in this race.  Up top in the saddle will be jockey, T Ace who is coming in from Texas to once again guide this horse.  This jockey has rode this horse several times successfully in the past, so I look for them to work well together here in New York when they come out of the paddock to the cheers of an excited crowd.

Good luck to all owners and horses!

Skippy’s Watch List

2-Dads Rule:  Coming off a G1 win. Will he be able to make it two in a row?

12-The Free World:  Coming off a G1 win and has a clean résumé.  Can he keep it intact?

14-Blythenthefastlane:  On a hot streak with three wins in a row.  Can he make it four?

Tarton’s Long Shot

7-Seize The Whip:  There are a lot of good choices to put on your exotic tickets in this race but I am going with this horse at 10/1 in the morning line.  He is coming off a second place finish in the G1, Clerk Of Scales stakes and the added half furlong make be to his liking.  He seems to be filling out and willing to run recently and could put up a good challenge in this race.  I am going to give him the opportunity to prove himself and place him on some of my exotic tickets when I head to the betting windows.