Epicenter

Mark Taylor joins this week's TDN Writers' Room to talk about the success of Taylor Made sire Not This Time and his Travers-winning son Epicenter. He also gives a preview of Taylor Made's consignment at the Keeneland September Sale.

It was a relatively quiet Thursday last week when jockey John Velazquez registered his 1,000th victory at Saratoga, extending his record as the winningest jockey in Spa history. Sifting through the archives to get a feel for what was going on in the sport when Johnny V. won his first career race at Saratoga back on Aug. 5, 1990, yields a heady mix of nostalgia tinged with kismet. Although not considered a truly "historic" day of racing at the Spa, there are enough intriguing nuggets buried within the charts and...

Winchell Thoroughbreds' Epicenter (Not This Time) was in fine shape Sunday morning, a day after his emphatic victory in the GI Runhappy Travers S. at Saratoga. "He's doing beautifully. He's very proud of himself," trainer Steve Asmussen said. "The race went beautifully and it was everything we hoped for. We're very proud of his win and excited about who he is." The Travers was the first Grade I win for Epicenter, who was runner-up in the GI Kentucky Derby and GI Preakness S. "We wanted it for him and for...

Saturday's 13-race Runhappy Travers Day card, highlighted by Epicenter (Not This Time)'s victory in the 153rd running of the $1.25 million GI Runhappy Travers, generated record setting all-sources wagering handle of $55,559,315 and had the highest paid attendance since 2015 at 49,672. The 2022 figure eclipses the prior Runhappy Travers Day record of $52,129,346 in wagering from all-sources, which was established in 2019. On-track handle was $10,373,124, or 10.3 percent higher than 2021, when on-track handle was $9,406,526.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.--After leading the sophomore male division through the winter and early spring, Epicenter (Not This Time) ended up second as the favorite in the first two legs of the Triple Crown. Losing none of his luster in those defeats, the Winchell Thoroughbreds colorbearer rebounded with a decisive score in the GII Jim Dandy S. and had his connections feeling confident he could finally get the Grade I he was lacking, but certainly deserved. Epicenter did just that Saturday with an emphatic score in the prestigious GI Runhappy Travers...

Our sport thrives on anticipation; our business, on outcomes. But actually it can take a while to unpick one from the other—especially when even a race as storied as the GI Travers S. is not just an end in itself, but also a potential means to viability for the whole program of whoever is lucky enough to own the winner.

The GI Runhappy Travers S. is one of the summer's most highly anticipated events and for the past several years it has been the centerpiece of a Super Saturday card at Saratoga that serves as a Breeders' Cup preview. The Travers is one of five star-studded Grade Is on the 14-race card, which also includes the GII Ballston Spa S. for turf fillies. Intriguing storylines abound in this year's eight-horse renewal of the summer centerpiece for sophomore colts, which is topped by GII Jim Dandy S. winner Epicenter (Not This...

Winchell Thoroughbreds' MGSW and GI Kentucky Derby and GI Preakness S. runner-up Epicenter (Not This Time) drew post six in a field of eight and was installed as a significant 7-5 favorite in Saturday's 153rd renewal of the $1.25 million GI Runhappy Travers S. The Steve Asmussen pupil, last seen producing a dazzling late-to-first kick to capture the local GII Jim Dandy S. July 30, will be ridden by regular jockey Joel Rosario, who missed most of the past week of racing at Saratoga with an illness. Given the second-choice nod at...

With exercise rider Gabriel Lagunes in the irons, GI Kentucky Derby upsetter Rich Strike (Keen Ice) breezed five-eighths of a mile in :59.82 (3/34) over the Saratoga main track Friday morning in advance of his appearance in the $1.25-million GI Runhappy Travers S. at the Spa Aug. 27. "He worked really good. He worked faster than we thought he would, but he did it easily," trainer Eric Reed said. "I think my question on him liking the track was answered this morning. He came home well. It is probably as...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY - It's not your imagination that jockey Joel Rosario is having a big summer at Saratoga. Rosario, 37, is very much in the hunt for the overall title, a competition led by Irad Ortiz, Jr. Through Thursday's program, Ortiz had 37 wins, eight more than Rosario. However, in graded stakes races, Rosario is far and away the leader with 10 victories from 19 starts, a remarkable 53% win rate. Ortiz is next with five. With the 10, Rosario is in position to smash the current record of...

Undefeated Flightline closed as the favorite following the completion of betting on Sunday in Pool 1 of the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Future Wager. Life Is Good follows at 6-1 ($15.56), GII Jim Dandy S. winner Epicenter was next at 7-1 ($17.42), and Country Grammar is the fourth betting choice at 12-1 ($27.14). The pool generated $205,249 in total handle, which was a 138% increase from the first pool of the Classic Future Wager in 2018, the last time this wager was offered. The second will be offered over Labor...

While all eyes were on returning champion Corniche (Quality Road) who faded to last, Gunite (Gun Runner) completed a big weekend at Saratoga for Winchell Thoroughbreds and trainer Steve Asmussen with a gritty victory in the GII Amsterdam S. in upstate New York Sunday. Sent off at 7-1, last year's GI Hopeful S. winner battled Pinehurst (Twirling Candy) through fractions of :21.78 and :44.60, while Corniche sat in stalking position behind the dueling leaders. As the champ backed up on the turn, Gunite strode to the lead into the lane...