Zayat Stables's American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) looks to continue his march into racing immortality by becoming the second Triple Crown winner to capture Saratoga's GI Travers S. Saturday. Whirlaway was the first to accomplish the feat in 1941 and only two other Triple Crown winners have tried, but both ended up second. Gallant Fox lost to 100-1 shot Jim Dandy in 1930, and Affirmed was disqualified and placed second for interference with Alydar in 1978.
Last year's champion juvenile has been nothing short of sensational this season starting with dominating wins in Oaklawn's GII Rebel S. and GI Arkansas Derby this spring. Beating one of the best crops of 3-year-olds in recent history to become the first Triple Crown winner in 37 years, the bay dazzled a record crowd at Monmouth Park with yet another decisive victory in the GI William Hill Haskell Invitational S. Aug. 2, which provided him with an all expenses paid trip to Keeneland for the GI Breeders' Cup Classic Oct. 31. Hall of Famer Bob Baffert kept the racing world on the edge of their seats for three weeks after that as he remained on the fence about the colt's next start, despite Ahmed Zayat's push for the Travers. Baffert finally gave the thumbs up to head to the Spa after American Pharoah won him over with an impressive seven-furlong breeze at Del Mar in 1:23 1/5 last Sunday.
“We know Pharoah's really good, but it's a pretty solid field,” Baffert said. “You can't be afraid to get beat. That's the way we look at it. We feel confident that he's going to run a good race, and that's all you can do. We'll just lead him over there. I think that's what true racing's all about, to witness big performances.”
Godolphin Racing's Frosted (Tapit) will take a third crack at the champion Saturday. Winner of the GI TwinSpires.com Wood Memorial S. at the Big A Apr. 4, the Kiaran McLaughlin pupil was the only closer to make up any ground when fourth in the GI Kentucky Derby May 2. A valiant second behind American Pharoah in the GI Belmont S. June 6, the gray finished second behind GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Texas Red (Afleet Alex) when forced to run much closer to the pace than normal in a four-horse renewal of the Spa's GII Jim Dandy S. Aug. 1. The homebred most recently breezed a best-of-20 five panels here in :59 2/5 Aug. 20.
Owned by a partnership that includes trainer Keith Desormeaux, Texas Red has continued to improve since his romp in the BC Juvenile. Runner-up in his seasonal bow in Arcadia's GII San Vicente S., the bay exited the race with a foot abcess that would keep him off the Triple Crown trail. Returning with a valiant second behind undefeated 'TDN Rising Star' Speightster (Speightstown) in Belmont's GII Dwyer S. July 4, the sophomore returned to the winner's circle last time in the Jim Dandy, the traditional Travers prep.
Keen Ice | Christie DeBernardis
Donegal Racing's Keen Ice (Curlin) put in what is arguably his best performance thus far when closing strongly to be second to American Pharoah in the Haskell. A respectable seventh in the Run for the Roses, the Dale Romans trainee came running late in the Belmont to beat out G2 UAE Derby hero Mubtaahij (Ire) (Dubawi {GB}) for third by a neck. With regular rider Kent Desormeaux sticking with Texas Red, the hulking bay gains the services of top New York rider Javier Castellano for this one.
Rick Violette originally said that if American Pharoah was entered in the Travers that Upstart (Flatter) would not be, but after another rail draw, several strong breezes and a good-looking gallop Friday morning the conditioner changed his mind. “He's doing great. We're going to run,” Violette said. “That's the plan. American Pharoah looked fabulous, too. He looked great, but my horse is doing good, too, so we're going to take a shot.” Winner of the GII Holy Bull S., the Ralph Evans and WinStar Farm runner crossed the wire first in the GII Fountain of Youth S. Feb. 21, but was disqualified and placed second for interference. Runner-up in the GI Florida Derby, the New York-bred was eased in the Kentucky Derby and given some time off. The colt was originally entered in the Jim Dandy, but Violette called an audible when the Haskell purse was raised to $1.75 million and sent the bay to Oceanport, where he finished third.
Arnold Zetcher homebred Smart Transition (Smart Strike) takes a big step up here for trainer John Shireffs. Breaking his maiden at Santa Anita Apr. 30, he was third in a Belmont allowance June 6 and finished fourth in the Dwyer. The bay was last seen scoring a decisive victory over GIII Pegasus S. runner-up Tekton (Bernardini) and the reopposing King of New York (Street Boss) in this venue's Curlin S. July 31, which was won by last year's Travers winner V. E. Day (English Channel) prior to his upset in this test. “I always liked this horse but he never really got the trip he needed, and then in the Curlin, [jockey] Junior [Alvarado] gave him a great trip,” said Shireffs, who will give the leg up to Hall of Famer John Velazquez Saturday. “As far as physically, he is able to do a lot more now than what he could four months ago. He's much fitter and much more experienced on the racetrack.”
Rounding out the field is Jim Dandy fourth Frammento (Midshipman), GI Preakness S. runner-up Tale of Verve (Tale of Ekati) and maiden winner Mid Ocean (Mineshaft).
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