By Steve Sherack
TDN's Senior Racing Editor Steve Sherack handicaps Saturday's five Grade I races at Saratoga, headed by the 155th renewal of the Travers.
GI Sword Dancer (Race 9) – Can't envision a scenario where the Sword Dancer doesn't go through either of the Godolphin/Charlie Appleby runners Measured Time (GB) (#2) or Silver Knott (GB) (#4), who both enter off impressive graded wins over the Saratoga lawn. Silver Knott is already proven at this 1 1/2-mile trip and has never been in better form, and we still may not have seen the best yet from Measured Time, who stretches out off his two-length win over subsequent GI Arlington Million winner and stablemate Nations Pride (Ire) in the GI Manhattan. I'll be using both of them for equal amounts in my multi-race wagers, but if I had to give a slight edge to one of the two, let's go with Measured Time. Top Selection: #2 Measured Time (7-5).
GI Ballerina (Race 10) – F/M Sprint division leader Vahva (#3) comes into the Ballerina fresh (working bullets at Keeneland) and in career form following powerful wins in the GI Derby City Distaff and GIII Chicago, both at Churchill Downs. She should also sit an ideal, stalking trip behind Society and Munnys Gold, who figure to hook up early. If anyone can take down the favorite–it certainly won't be easy–it will be Scylla (#5). Hall of Famer Bill Mott confidently brings her back just three weeks following a very good second in the GI Clement L. Hirsch at Del Mar and also turns her back to one turn. Top Selection: #3 Vahva (1-1).
GI Forego (Race 11) – Will Run Classic (#5) get enough pace up front to help set up his kick? While I'm not entirely confident that will happen (you can never be too certain on this circuit these days), I've been impressed enough with how Run Classic has finished off his two races at Gulfstream this term for Jose D'Angelo to find out at anything near the morning-line quote of 5-1. Seventh in the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen, he prepped for this with a very strong rallying second in his South Florida return in the Smile Sprint. Absolutely no knocks on the in-form Mullikin (#6), who is the clear-cut horse to beat; and Angkor (#7) will also be on some of my tickets at a nice number as well. Top Selection: #5 Run Classic (5-1).
GI H. Allen Jerkens Memorial (Race 12) – Domestic Product (#3) took his game to the next level with a visually impressive blowout win turning back to a one-turn mile in the GIII Dwyer downstate and will cut back an additional furlong in this fantastic renewal of the Allen Jerkens. Trainer Chad Brown has won this race two previous times with Domestic Product's sire Practical Joke (2017) and Jack Christopher (2022), who were both turning back from third-place finishes in the GI Haskell. Certainly a fantastic sign to see Flavien Prat remain aboard after also recently partnering GII Amsterdam winner World Record, GI Woody Stephens second Prince of Monaco and Haskell third Timberlake. Jefferson Street (#10) will be too big of a price not to include on some tickets after being against the track as the heavy favorite in the Amsterdam; and they'll all have to beat deserving favorite Book'em Danno (#8), who has done absolutely nothing wrong in his eight-career starts. Top Selection: #3 Domestic Product (9-2).
GI Travers (Race 13) – Ever since Corporate Power (#4) debuted with a promising fourth-place finish on the Pegasus World Cup undercard (highlighted in our 'Second Chances' series), I've been patiently waiting to see what the son of Curlin could do in a race where he could sit back and make one big run going the Classic distance. This spot couldn't get any tougher, but he'll finally get that opportunity at a big price Saturday. He's added two narrow wins since his aforementioned debut sprinting at Gulfstream and had to sit much closer to the pace than I think he really wants while facing small fields, including a runner-up finish in the local Curlin. There appears to be plenty of pace signed on for him to close into if he's good enough to compete at the top level. Having 11 Travers wins between Hall of Famers Shug McGaughey and Javier Castellano (could be a big day for Javy) certainly doesn't hurt his chances, either. The expected pace scenario will also favorably play to the hand of Sierra Leone (#2), who is more than capable of delivering in a race of this caliber after a pair of well-documented defeats as the chalk. Those two will have to run down the ultra-game Dornoch (#7), who certainly won't go down without a fight. Top Selection: #4 Corporate Power (15-1).
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