A Trip To Saratoga For the Travers
(A quick note – all photographs were taken by the author)
This past weekend I made the trek up to Saratoga for the Travers Stakes. The biggest race of the meet is for three year old colts going a mile and a quarter. Often called the Midsummer Derby it can attract a stellar field year after year. But the Travers isn’t the only big race of the day – this year it was surrounded by five other grade one stakes races and a grade two on the thirteen race card which also featured three very competitive two year old maiden special weights.
A long time ago I worked on the backstretch at Saratoga. There is no more beautiful place than the Oklahoma training track in the early morning light. You also get to see some of the best horses in the country on a daily basis. But in recent years I have not been there nearly as much as I would like. This year though there were just too many good horses running on Travers Day – I couldn’t miss it.
The second race on the day was a maiden special weight on the dirt. The winner was Jack Christopher, a son of Munnings who earned “Rising Star” status from the Thoroughbred Daily News for his dominant win. Here he is moving around the turn to take the lead before romping by 8 3/4 lengths. He’s the chestnut on the outside.
Another two year old winner on the card was Whittington Park, a son of Midnight Lute.
The first grade one race of the day was the Ballerina Stakes. A seven furlong contest for fillies and mares, the heavy favorite was Bob Baffert’s Gamine. Gamine was the Champion Filly or Mare Sprinter in 2020 and the daughter of Into Mischief was undefeated on the season. She had to work for her win in this spot but she kept her undefeated record intact. Here she is leading the field around the turn.
The second grade one may have been the most memorable race on the card. The Forego Stakes is also run at seven furlongs, this time for older males. The field was very competitive and it came down to Yaupon (inside) and Firenze Fire down the lane. Towards the finish line Firenze Fire veered inside and tried to savage Yaupon several times. I highly recommend you look up a replay of the race it is unbelievable. What may be more unbelievable is that Firenze Fire was actually the victim of a savaging in the past. Nevertheless Yaupon ignored his rival and held on for a short victory.
A third seven furlong contest came next, this time the H. Allen Jerkens for three year old colts. Jerkens was an amazing trainer who passed away several years ago. The Hall of Fame trainer had many memorable wins at Saratoga but perhaps none more so than when his Onion upset the great Secretariat in the Whitney Stakes. This time the bettors narrowed the field down to two contenders – Jackie’s Warrior and Life Is Good. Jackie’s Warrior won the grade one Hopeful at the same distance last year at Saratoga and is an ultra fast sprinter. Life Is Good was last seen defeating Medina Spirit in a grade two at Santa Anita. After suffering a minor injury that kept him out of the Triple Crown races he was transferred to Todd Pletcher’s barn (from Bob Baffert’s) and Todd said before the race that he couldn’t be training any better. Again the spectators were treated to a great race as the two battled around the turn and down the stretch with Jackie’s Warrior (inside) just getting the better of Life Is Good. Out of the three seven furlong races on the card these two three year olds ran the fastest by several hundreds of a second.
Letruska highlighted the Personal Ensign Stakes, a mile and one eighth race for fillies and mares. The field featured last season’s Preakness Stakes winner Swiss Skydiver as well as a number of other graded stakes winners. Letruska had already won four graded stakes on the year and has been considered a leading contender for Horse of the Year. She battled all the way around the track but won comfortably.
The only turf grade one of the day featured a seven horse field in the Sword Dancer Invitational. Run at a mile and a half the narrow favorite was Gufo, a son of Declaration of War who was a grade one winner last season but was unlucky in two grade one efforts this year. Gufo likes to come from way back in the pack and needs a bit of luck to get the win. In this race he had more than a little luck as he was able to make a big move down the stretch while also hemming in the second choice Japan from Aidan O’Brien’s barn. Japan made a big late move once he had running room after being passed by Gufo and actually closed to within a neck of Gufo at the end. Here is Gufo and his groom celebrating their win.
Then came the race everyone was waiting for – the Travers Stakes. Last year’s two year old champion Essential Quality was the heavy favorite. Essential Quality’s only loss in his career came in the Kentucky Derby when he finished third by less than a length. Since that race he’s won the Belmont Stakes as well as Saratoga’s Travers prep race, the grade two Jim Dandy Stakes. Essential Quality looked every bit the part of a champion as he warmed up.
Never far from the leader Midnight Bourbon, Essential Quality , the grey, challenged that rival around the turn and the two put on a show down the stretch. Essential Quality had let his rival set a relaxed early pace before reeling him in. The two ran the fastest final quarter in any Travers since times have been recorded in hundredths of a second.
Overall it was a very memorable day at The Spa. Fans were treated to some great races with tremendous duels down the stretch. I’m sure many will be back next year – hopefully including me!
Spectacular photos and excellent commentary. A truly enjoyable read! Thanks for sharing, Eliza.
One question. Which are you? The frog or the pad?
Thanks Bill! I mostly photograph horses and dogs – and what are on the bottom of their feet? Frogs and pads. I used the image to be a bit cheeky.
Thanks for the explanation. No surprise considering the clever monikers you come up with for your horses.
Superb photography and reporting.
Thank you itch! Your presence was missed this year. Maybe someday you can get back.
Wow! Love the pictures! Thank you for sharing.
Thank you!
Amazing. Just amazing.
The photo of Gufo and his groom really captures the feeling of pride when your horse wins. I don’t know how it’s done but I’d love to see this photo make the rounds & get some recognition #Eclipseforphotography 🙂
Ha thank you! I don’t think the BTB is one of the recognized publications to qualify for an Eclipse nom. I do love the emotion though.
Fantastic Spin! I wish you’d been up there the week prior, but glad to see this article. Great job!
I appreciate it. I was so on the fence about going but I’m glad I did. Maybe next year I can get up there for a gathering.
Great photos Spin! Love the field of depth which keeps the focus on the games stars! And taking the shots at different vantage points on the track was exceptional!
Thank you Ken although I have to be honest I stayed in one part of the track for all the photos 🙂 I was at the top of the stretch so I had a good angle for both the turn and as the horses straightened out into the stretch.
I’m an Aussie and have never experienced the Saratoga meeting, but one of my best mates is a jockey’s valet based out of New York and he goes up there every year. He reckons it’s a truly unique experience. Hopefully when we’re allowed to travel again I might get the chance to attend
Steve it is a magical place for sure!
How lucky are we to enjoy some of the finest thoroughbred pictures of the current stars of the game ! Thanks spin !
Wow ric I am humbled by your comment. Thank you!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlP0oybGBSo
Watch (7) Firenze Fire in deep stretch. Repeatedly tries to savage Yaupon approaching the wire. He needs a horse shrink.
F F is number 8 not 7. My bad.
One of the all time great BTB articles
Thanks Spin
Wow thanks so much kyogle!
All your photos are very, very good. But the “Gufo and his groom” photo is world class. Thank you kindly for sharing with us.
Thank you very much mano. I like that one very much as well.
Great article and photos. I have been to Saratoga more times than I can count over the years, mainly due to being stabled there as well as shipping horses over to race. Just want to mention that Firenze Fire was on his way to the winner circle had he just kept his mind on his business. Also, 23-1 long shot Bonny South( who I had in my Pick5 and Pick6) was on her way to upsetting Letruska before being shut off late by Royal Flag. That would have certainly helped those tickets pay a lot better than what they did. There was no ‘Giant Killer’ there on this day.
Very true about both horses. And my tickets did not fair too well on this day because I just could not play a lot of the favorites at such short odds.
Outstanding as always Eliza…Travers Day at Saratoga this year was one the the finest days of racing I have seen in a long time, and you captured it wonderfully.
Thank you so much Pete. It really was an exceptional card.
Fantastic article and photos. I loved watching this card and I loved reliving it with this article. Thank you!
Thanks sremel! It was a really deep card and had great finishes.
Just got around to checking this out and utterly amazing!! Great job Eliza, these photos are fantastic!
Wow thanks Dan! I know you know some great photographers so that means a lot.
Thanks for sharing your talents to those of us who only hope to make a visit to Saratoga in the near future. Great Job!
I didn’t know you were coming or we would have hooked up. I am so sorry it didn’t happen. Maybe next year! The pictures are simply outstanding. You certainly captured what was a great day. Many thanks!