Travers Day RECAP – Tiz the Law Dominates – Derby Next!
- Updated: August 10, 2020
Photo: Eclipse Sportswire
Travers Stakes (G1)
In another “WOW!” performance, Tiz the Law took full advantage of another perfect trip — stalking the moderate pace set by Uncle Chuck and then blazed past that rival when he chucked it in at the top of the stretch –and opened up and then was geared down as they hit the wire. The margin of victory could have easily been 8 lengths. Caracaro showed he belongs in the Kentucky Derby gate with a solid second place finish. Max Player made a menacing move into the sluggish pace on the back stretch as they were heading for the turn. He’ll get a faster pace in the Derby and he proved he can get the 1 ¼ distance. He’s been lightly raced so he offers plenty of upside as they head to Kentucky.
Check out Tiz the Law’s BRISNET past performances in the wake of the Travers Stakes. It has been a long time since we have seen a running line anything close to that Travers crusher. I can’t ever recall seeing a 3 year-old log 115+ 2nd call and final Speed Rating figures. That’s just beyond words. There is no question who the prohibitive favorite will be on the first Saturday in September.
Ellis Park Derby
Art Collector made short order of this field in making his final prep for the Kentucky Derby and will be one of the secondary favorites behind Tiz the Law following this performance. Art Collector took command from the start laying out smart fractions and then continued on with ease to and through the wire unchallenged throughout. Connections didn’t need to worry about reserving him as he won this all on his own in the end, anyway.
Our top pick, Shared Sense had too much to do when breaking out and then sitting in last place for nearly half the race and then going 8 to 9 wide on the turn. Geroux had to be thinking the pace will collapse and come back to him but that didn’t happen.
Our Top Long Shot pick, Attachment Rate, finally broke through with the kind of new lifetime top effort we have been anticipating for some time. He got that clean trip and demonstrated he was clearly 2nd best in this field. He now has enough points to get into the Kentucky Derby field and you know Dale Romans is going. Our next best Long Shot Pick, Necker Island, finished 3rd and was wisely taken off the pace as we had hoped for and finished a decent 3rd at odds of 31-1.
#10 Attachment Rate will be taken off the pace here and finally gets a very fast pace to close into. He had no excuses in that last race when losing to #4 Art Collector but he was ridden too aggressively by Joe Talamo in that race and you can be assured they’ll take back and just make one run to try to catch a piece of this at a square price. #5 Necker Island always had potential but has not broken through just yet. His best effort, however, came last out for his new barn when finishing 3rd behind #12 Shared Sense. He can build off that effort here especially if he is not positioned too closely to the early heat. Not an Exacta player but a candidate for the bottom of the Trifecta or Superfecta.
While not as impressive as Tiz the Law’s running line coming out of the Travers, Art Collector put up a respectable performance, numbers wise, especially considering he was not all in when it came to this final prep. In the end, he has basically run the same race in his last 3 starts against lesser competition than what Tiz the Law has been crushing. Regardless, he’ll draw deserved wagering attention come the first Saturday in September.
Best Pal (G2)
The Super Screener Top Win pick, Weston, submitted a gutsy performance dueling with long shot, Girther, and then kept coming after that rival getting the advantage as they approached the wire. Something went wrong with odds-on favorite Roderick as he was pulled up before they hit the stretch.
Test (G1)
Nothing to wager on here but it was just a sensational race to watch as Gamine just crushed again dueling with Venetian Harbor and then drawing off at will, in hand. It was clearly the performance of the day. The sky is the limit for this filly and can’t wait to see what’s next for her. She’ll be a major player in the Breeders’ Cup no matter what race she lands in.
Ballerina (G1)
The class relief and cut back in distance was all it took for Serengeti Empress to get the job done and she did so cutting extremely fast fractions on the glib Saratoga dirt course. Bellafina submitted a good enough performance to provide some evidence that she can transport top efforts away from Santa Anita where all of her prior success had come from.
Clearly, something is not right with Pink Sands as she lugged out badly going 9 to 10 wide. That’s two flops in a row now and time for connections to regroup.
Troy (G3)
The Super Screener 2nd choice in the race, Imprimis, won but was subsequently disqualified when taking out Shekky Shebaz and Pulsate (our top pick and top long play, respectively) late in the stretch. Shekky Shebaz checked hard and then came back on and passed American Sailor a jump after the wire so the foul cost him 2nd place. Pulsate was completely taken out losing a position or two. Imprimis was placed 3rd after the disqualification
Tough to watch when you know you had the Exacta nailed.
Waya (G3)
No real surprises in this chalky outcome as Chad Brown’s My Sister Nat broke the 2nd place pattern with a win showing that good turn of foot into the very slow pace. She’ll be at her best going the 1 ½ miles distance. Mrs Sippy returned from that long layoff to submit the expected solid performance. Look for further improvement in her next start. Olympic Games could not move forward off that last top effort and disappointed here finishing at the back of the pack. Going to have to discount performances from any horses coming out of that July 12th race.
Yellow Ribbon (G2)
When Jolie Olimpica was taken out of this race, the pace complexion completely changed giving closers like Beau Recall and Lady Prancealot no chance at the win. It was all forwardly placed types that took the top three positions as they were advantaged by what went from a race with a projected solid pace to one that was dawdling throughout.
There is one more final Kentucky Derby points race next weekend in the TVG.com Pegasus to be run at Monmouth Park. Work in earnest begins on the Kentucky Derby Super Screener as we are less than 4 weeks away now from the big day. Next weekend also features the G1 Alabama at Saratoga and Woodbine will support a strong card of stakes action on Queen’s Plate preview day. Plenty of racing action to look forward to.
Until this coming weekend, Go Fast and Win!
Mike
