Tag: travers stakes

Saratoga Travers Day Picks — Saturday, August 24, 2024 | Full Card Analysis & Best Bets

on By 1 Comment
A dynamic horse race featuring multiple jockeys in colorful silks riding thoroughbred horses on a dirt track.

Sunshine and a 14 race Travers Stakes day card can cure any broken soul. The problem is, if you leave the track broke it’s no fun regardless. Don’t worry passengers, the Conductor has got you covered. Aim small, miss small, but really never miss at all. Skip.

Race 2: 1 1/16 Mile. (Turf) OC 80000n1x

#1 Crystal Quest (8/1)

#4 Spirit Prince (9/2)

Race 4: 1 Mile. OC 62500n2x

#6 Can’t Hush This (5/2)

#5 Jace’s Road (7/2)

Race 5: 5½ Furlongs. (Turf) OC 62500n2x

#1A Bring Theband Home (7/5)

Race 8: 1 1/16 Mile. (Turf) S.Alw 95000n1x

#2 Whistler’s Honor (10/1)

#5 Rhetorical (2/1)

Race 9: 1½ Mile. (Inner Turf) G1 Sword Dancer

#2 Measured Time (7/5)

Race 10: 7 Furlongs. F.G1 Ballerina Handicap

#5 Scylla (7/2)

#4 Society (4/1)

Race 12: 7 Furlongs. G1 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes

#5 Prince of Monaco (4/1)

#6 Timberlake (5/1)

#10 Jefferson Street (12/1)

Race 13: 1 1/4 Mile. Travers G1 Draftkings Travers Stakes

#2 Sierra Leone (7/2) – The Conductor has faded Sierra Leone while he has continued to settle for the minor awards this year. However, today has to be his day. The three other favorites all want to be forwardly placed, and the other Chad Brown entry, #3 Unmatched Wisdom (6/1), will ensure there is a hot pace for him to run at. Sierra Leone will get a perfect setup for his closing kick, and will be a better price than he’s been lately. While the passengers are hopping off his bandwagon, the Conductor is jumping on.

#4 Corporate Power (15/1) – The Conductor loves this colt’s steady progression and he looks like a horse that will relish the added distance today. He should be in an ideal position mid-pack behind the speed, and will sustain his run late. Shug has plenty of past success in the Travers and Corporate Power is a new face in a group of mediocre 3-year-olds. The Conductor will be all over a 2-4 exacta in the Travers, and thinks he has shot at pulling a big upset as well.

Saratoga Travers Stakes Day Picks — Saturday, August 26, 2023 | Full Card & Stakes Analysis

on By 1 Comment
Travers Stakes Picks

No need for the Conductor to play in the slop Friday. Especially after a brutal Thursday with two 2nds and a 3rd. The Ductor can’t believe it’s already Travers Stakes day. The worst meet in Saratoga history is coming to an end. Let’s get it over with. Skip.

Race 8: 5½ Furlongs. (Turf) Alw 149500n1x

#6 Highly Flammable (9/2) – This gelding has improved in his last three starts since moving to the turf. Last time out at Saratoga, he beat an allowance field handily with a poor turf trip. He was 4-wide and uncovered almost the entire turn and still won with ease. 9/2 would be stealing from the Pony Gods.

Race 10: 7 Furlongs. F.G1 Ballerina

#6 Echo Zulu (7/5) – This is a match race between her and #7 Goodnight Olive (7/5). Goodnight Olive got the best of Echo Zulu in the Breeders’ Cup last year, but the Conductor thinks she’ll turn the tables. Echo Zulu looks even better as a 4-year-old and she’s the lone speed in this race. She has no excuse here.

Race 11: 1½ Mile. (Inner Turf) G1 Sword Dancer

#5 Pioneering Spirit (8/1) – Winner of four in a row, this gelding has been dominant since switching to turf. He gets the acid test today stepping up in class, but this is a very weak Grade 1 field. The only legit Grade 1 horse is #7 Stone Age (6/5), who will be odds on. Linda Rice can continue to make a mockery of the NYRA.

Race 12: 1 1/4 Mile. Travers G1 Travers Stakes

*Gullet Shot of the Day #2 Arcangelo (5/2) – The Conductor has no reason not to playback Arcangelo after cashing all the coal on Belmont Stakes Day. That was the best race a 3-year-old has run to this point and he looks to get a great trip again today. He has the tactical speed to sit right off #5 National Treasure (6/1) and get the jump on #1 Forte (7/5) as they turn for home. 2/1 or better will do just fine. The only price the Conductor is mildly interested in underneath is #6 Disarm (8/1). He’s sneakily improving with each start this season.

The Conductor’s Travers Day Plays at Saratoga

on By
Group of racehorses with jockeys in colorful silks competing on a racetrack.

The time has come. The biggest day at the biggest meet. It’s put up or shut up time for the Conductor. Will Saratoga defeat him? Or will he come out on top? Only time will tell, but Toga best believe the Conductor is coming out swinging. Protect your neck in the Travers Toga, Let’s Ride.

Race 1: 1 Mile. (Inner Turf) OC 62500n2x

#8 Lemonist (4/1) – Last time was too long for him and he still ran a good 2nd at this level. 3rd off the layoff and shortening to his preferred distance, the Conductor gives him a major chance to upset the chalk.

Race 2: 6 Furlongs. Mdn 90k

7 Onward (7/2) – Drawn well to the outside for strong connections, this boy is well bred and working well.

Race 3: 1 1/16 Mile. (Turf) F.Mdn 90k

#5 New York Charmer (15/1) – Stretching out to a route and trying grass for the first time, this filly can drastically improve for top connections. She gets a rider upgrade and the Conductor will key her in the exacta and tri.

Race 4: 6½ Furlongs. Alw 92000n1x

#2 Dark N Cloudy (20/1) – He ran 2nd vs similar last start and has past performances above par for this level. He has good early speed and doesn’t need the lead to win. If he can sit just behind a hot pace, he’ll be very dangerous.

Race 5: 7 Furlongs. G1 Forego Stakes

#3 Mitole (4/5) – He was finally defeated last start after having a little trouble at the gate. The Conductor sees him rebounding today and putting on a show.

Race 6: 7 Furlongs. F.G1 Ketel One Ballerina Stakes

#6 Minit to Stardom (8/1) – She’s become a new animal this year in the Camejo barn. She wired the field to upset the Honorable Miss last time and the Conductor sees her having a chance to do the same today.

Race 7: 7 Furlongs. G1 H. Allen Jerkens Stakes

#1 Shancelot (1/2) – The Conductor wanted to take a shot against him from the rail, but his early pace edge looks too much for this group to handle.

Race 8: 1 1/16 Mile. (Turf) F.G2 Woodford Reserve Ballston Spa Stakes

#7 Scottish Jig (10/1) – Shortening in distance, she’s the lone speed in the race. She’s a nice price and looks to get a favorable trip setting a slow pace. The Conductor will key her in the exacta and trifecta. This race is wide open on the win end.

Using ALL

Race 9: 1 1/8 Mile. G1 Personal Ensign Stakes

#5 Wow Cat (5/1) – The Conductor will use this mare along with #4 Elate (7/5). She needed that last race off a long layoff, and this has been the goal for Chad all along. The Conductor sees her running back to her Breeders Cup Distaff effort, which will give her every chance.

The Conductor will TOSS #1 Midnight Bisou (6/5)

Race 10: 1½ Mile. (Inner Turf) Grade 1 Sword Dancer Stakes

#7 Annals of Time (5/2) – This Grade 1 winner was dominant last time and has the most talent in the field. The majority of the Conductor’s play will go through him.

Backups: #6 Ya Primo (7/2), #5 Pillar Mountain (10/1)

Race 11: 1 1/4 Mile. Travers G1 Runhappy Travers Stakes

*Gullet Shot of the Day #7 Mucho Gusto (6/1) – The Conductor’s Travers Preview

travers stakes

Race 12: 5½ Furlongs. (Turf) S.OC 40000n2x

#11 Discretionary Marq (4/1) – Dropping out of open company, his early speed will put him in a great spot turning for home.

Race 13: 1 1/16 Mile. (Inner Turf) F.Mdn 90k

#1 Aymara (12/1) – 2nd off the layoff, she was favored last time and ran like a short horse. She has talent and the Conductor sees her running a big effort today.

Throat Shot Thursday: The Conductor’s Plays at Saratoga

on By
Saratoga Picks

OFF The turf for races 5,7,10 today at Saratoga, On the turf for 3 and 9. The Conductor needs to build his bankroll for the Travers, Let’s Ride.

Race 1: Hurdle Race

Race 2: 1 1/8 Mile. Clm 16000n2L

#4 Purchasing Power (5/1) – The Conductor will try to beat Chad in this spot. Dropping in class and switching back to dirt, this colt showed ability last year and the distance wont be a problem.

Race 3: 1 3/16 Mile. (Turf) F.Alw 92000n1x

*Gullet Shot of the Day #1A Fancy That (8/1) –  In her first time on turf last start, she ran better than it looks on paper, closing to split the field in a race without much pace. The winner of that race, Varenka came back to win a graded stakes race at the Spa last weekend and this filly gets a rider upgrade today to Jose Ortiz. The Conductor will key her in the exacta and trifecta.

saratoga

Race 4: 1 1/8 Mile. Alw 50000s

#5 Grit and Glory (7/2) – This gelding is named after the Conductor.

Race 5: 1 1/16 Mile. (OFF Turf) F.Mdn 75k

#8 Raggedy Annie (9/2) – She ran ok in her debut and is stretching out to a route for the first time. She’s working well and trainer D. Wayne Lukas has hit with prices this year adding Lasix for the 1st time.

Race 6: 1 1/8 Mile. Mdn 90k

#1 Lucky Curlin (9/5) – Going two sprints to a route at Saratoga, he looks to be set up perfectly for this spot. He’ll have a major fitness advantage against a field of mostly 1st timers.

Race 7: 1 Mile. (OFF Turf) F.S.Mdn 78k

#13 Nasty Affair (5/2) – A MTO that draws in, nobodies horses improve more in their 2nd career start than Linda Rice’s

Race 8: 1 1/8 Mile. S.OC 40000n3x

#4 Shamrock Kid (8/1) – Stretching back out to his preferred distance at Saratoga, he looks to get a nice trip up close to a slow pace. At a nice price, he has as good a chance as any.

Race 9: 1 Mile. (Turf) F.Riskaverse Stakes 100k

*Never a Doubt Chad Brown Lock of the Day #6 Catch a Bid (7/5) – The only runner that could potentially breathe on her is #10 Hotsy Totsy. Her 1st two career starts have been ultra-impressive.

saratoga

Race 10: 1 1/8 Mile. (OFF Turf) MC 65000

#1 Deft (8/1) – This gelding hasn’t routed on dirt before and ran huge on turf last time setting a hot pace a hot pace and holding on for 2nd.

#7 Tony Small (6/1) – He showed ability in his first two career starts and hasn’t shown much in his last two. He’s had some time off and has been gelded since his last. Nothing can wake a horse up like a clipping.