Travers

Kiaran McLaughlin surprised much of the racing world last year when he abruptly decided to halt his massively successful training career in order to become the jockey's agent for Luis Saez. But it shouldn't surprise anyone to see the success McLaughlin has had handling Saez's book, as the 29-year-old Panamanian is poised to win his first Saratoga riding title. Wednesday, McLaughlin joined the TDN Writers' Room presented by Keeneland to talk about why he made his career shift, the booming results of his partnership with Saez, memories of triumphs in...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY--Four-time GI Runhappy Travers S.-winning trainer Shug McGaughey said Thursday that First Captain (Curlin) will not run in Saratoga's signature race Aug. 28. Godoplphin's Essential Quality (Tapit), the winner of seven of eight career starts, including the GI Belmont S., is the headliner for the 152nd running of the $1.25 million Travers. Though the chestnut colt is fine following his third-place finish in the Curlin S. July 30, McGaughey decided to pass on the Travers and point to the GI Pennsylvania Derby Sept. 25. "I just don't think...

The New York Racing Association announced post times for the 40-day summer meet at historic Saratoga, which will feature 76 stakes worth $21.5 million in total purses. With the exception of Travers Day, Whitney Day and closing weekend, first post on live race days will be 1:05 p.m. First post for the GI Runhappy Travers Day card Aug. 28 will be 11:35 a.m. GI Whitney S. Day Aug. 7 kicks off with a 12:35 p.m. first post. Closing weekend of the Saratoga meet will offer a 12:35 p.m. post time...

Essential Quality (Tapit) got great marks from trainer Brad Cox the morning after the colt triumphed in a strong renewal of the GI Belmont S., and Cox said the Godolphin homebred will be pointed next to the GI Runhappy Travers S. Aug. 28 at Saratoga. The Belmont victory marked the first Grade I win as a sophomore for last year's champion 2-year-old male and offered a measure of redemption for the gray, who was the beaten favorite when fourth in last month's GI Kentucky Derby, his first career defeat. "He...

Trainer Brad Cox told Steve Byk on At the Races Tuesday morning that champion Essential Quality (Tapit), fourth in the GI Kentucky Derby as the 29-10 favorite, will skip the GI Preakness S. May 15. The grey could be considered for the GI Belmont S. June 5, with Godolphin's Jimmy Bell telling TVG's Alicia Hughes that the Belmont is "part of the conversation, but that's not definitive at all. We're skipping the Preakness, that's for sure. Our primary goal is to run in the [Aug. 28 GI] Travers and we'll...

In advance of Runhappy Travers Day Saturday, Aug. 8, NYRA communications director Pat McKenna issued the following statement to address questions regarding the New York Travel Advisory and its impact on horse owners seeking to travel to Saratoga. To align with required health and safety measures implemented in New York by Governor Andrew Cuomo to mitigate risk and combat the spread of COVID-19, horse owners planning travel to New York from any of the states currently listed on the New York Travel Advisory are required to complete a mandatory 14-day...

GI Belmont S. winner Tiz the Law (Constitution) looks to take his next step down this unconventional GI Kentucky Derby trail in Saturday's GI Runhappy Travers S. at Saratoga. The even-money morning-line favorite will break from post six with regular rider Manny Franco in the irons. "I think he's matured enough now that outside or inside is not going to bother him too much," trainer Barclay Tagg said. "I'd prefer that he's on the outside just because you have less chance of getting in trouble. Not that you can't, but...

Ed DeRosa of Brisnet.com takes on TDN's Steve Sherack and Brian DiDonato as they handicap Triple Crown prep races plus the big three races themselves. The three will make $100 Win/Place bets in the preps and $200 Win/Place bets in the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont. Highest bankroll at the end wins. DeRosa - Shared Belief S. Result - Cezanne finished last of four. Bankroll: $4960. GI Runhappy Travers S. - I hope people fall in love with the thought of Baffert shipping East (again!) and bet their lungs on...

South Bend (Algorithms), a recent addition to the Bill Mott barn, turned in his final breeze Sunday over Saratoga's Oklahoma Training Track as he eyes next Saturday's GI Runhappy Travers S. The colt was acquired privately from Sagamore Farm and trainer Stanley Hough after finishing second in the June 27 GIII Ohio Derby by a group that includes Gary Barber, Adam Wachtel, Peter Deutsch and Leonard Schleifer of Pantofel Stable. Working outside of recent GII Suburban S. romper Tacitus (Tapit), South Bend was credited with five furlongs in a best-of-11...

On paper, First Line (First Samurai) would appear to be in over his head in the GI Runhappy Travers S. But his young trainer insists he "will outrun his odds" and sees the horse starting in the GI Kentucky Derby. Orlando Noda is not lacking confidence. It's not hard to understand why. Training for just 16 months, Noda, 31, is in the midst of another strong Saratoga meet. With just six horses under his care at the start of the meet last year, he went three for nine. This year,...

If anything, you would think it the very last thing that might appeal to one who has spent decades acquainting himself, at viscerally close quarters, with all the things that can go wrong with a Thoroughbred. Yet here he is, sharing the same vicissitudes as those clients for whom--weighing the ups and downs of their trade--his veterinary skills so long served as a vital fulcrum. As one of the original partners of the Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital, Dr. Scott Pierce could scarcely have gone into breeding with fewer illusions....

Leading sophomore Tiz the Law (Constitution) turned in his first published breeze since shipping to Saratoga Saturday morning as he eyes the Spa's GI Runhappy Travers S. Aug. 8. Working solo around 8:45 a.m. under exercise rider Heather Smullen, the GI Belmont S. hero was clocked in :59.63 with internal splits of :24.40 and :35.60 and a six-furlong gallop-out in 1:12.84. Click for XBTV video. "I thought the work was good," said trainer Barclay Tagg. "He did it just right. The time was good. Everything was good." Tiz the Law...