Birdstone and M.D. have proven their worth as stallions so far.

Forego Day was one of my first times at Saratoga and I haven't been back since (To Forego Day. Not Saratoga!).

One or two of them would've run her ass down in the 10f Travers.


Might as well try to steal the shorter contest from the older mediocrities...

That's why the Woodward is the better choice. Bullsbay second. Asiatic Boy third . Greet the teller!

"After it was announced that Rachel Alexandra would go in the Woodward, the New York Racing Association announced the purse would be raised from $500,000 to $750,000."

This a waste of money in my opinion. She would have run in the race anyway, and there aren't any top class older horses around no matter what the purse is....

by making 2nd place worth 150K and 3rd worth 75K .. it at least should keep the field size more respectable.

I think there is a chance she draws a bigger crowd.

I will go for Woodward weekend.

If I don't get lost on the way there.

See Ya

ESPN or FOX Sports Net picking this race up,? it'll be a shame to only have the TVG telecast.

Okay I will give you Bernardini, in what was a very forgettable running of the Travers. He was brilliantly talented but like so many recently, never really raced long enough to prove anything. Street Sense didnt really impress me all that much with that all out finish to beat Grasshopper, a horse who won how many races after that 2nd place finish in the Travers?

He liked Saratoga! Strong angle that made me $$. Then and at next years Whitney. Watchout at Saratoga for horses who have run well there or liked Churchill.

One of the ESPNS 4:30

One of the ESPNS 4:30 Travers.

Yeah I know about that as long as LLWS doesn't run over, which always drives me nuts, but I was wondering about the Woodward.

I've always liked the Churchill-Saratoga angle as well, ever since Sea Hero.

Does this serve as a warning to those in the area? :p

Warrior's Reward will run by Quality Road like hes tied to a pole.....AND why would you think he's a one turn horse? Beacuse he destroyed Munnings in a one turn race at CD? Ian already has another horse to beat Munnings in the Kings Bishop (Capt. Candyman Can)....it's going to be a great weekend to be an Ian Wilkes fan....mark that down!

Yes.

Warrior's Reward was awful last time out.

MSG+ if you get it. TVG maybe? I'm not taking any chances, I'm going.

He was far from awful and he had an "interesting" ride.....in early May the Wilkes camp was saying this horse would win the Travers and all they have done to this point is prepare him for that specific race....we will all see Sat

question (dumb)
 

could zenyatta enter in this race if they wanted her too?

she sure could, but it won't happen.

What was so interesting about his ride?

He was loose on an unpressured lead through moderate fractions and he was unable to make good of the tactical advantage.

Flat Bold was dead last early - just a few lengths back - and was practically pulling Dominguez out of the saddle.

Is Ian Wilkes supposed to be some great handicapper or future wager expert or something? His horse will have to run significantly better to win the Travers.

It'll be on TVG, I don't get MSG out here with Comcast in Boston. Stinks because I was hoping Espn might pick it up. I like ESPN's coverage of horse racing. I hope they will throw up on Espn2 or Classic or something.

She hasn't been nominated though right?

If I remember correctly the pick 3 paid like 4 dollars for a dollar that year. Yeah I smashed that pick 3, last leg The Travers:o Good times:zz:

Maybe you're right, I mean Warrior's Reward has been absolutely scintillating in all of his route races.

Do you think it's a coincidence that the only time he has looked even moderately decent was around one turn with cupcake inside trips?

He lost to Successful Dan in a veritable match race as they controlled a cushy pace and he couldn't even get by him! In the Jim Dandy he really cruised on an easy lead (as DrugS pointed out) and had no answer for Kensei, who may be just a slightly decent horse.

There is absolutely nothing Warrior's Reward has done against stakes competition that would make me think he can win the Travers. Of the horses slated to run I'd say only Charitable Man and Our Edge are more unlikely winners.

NT

No question he will have to run better to win the Travers....however, some trainers take their time and develop horses with very specific goals in mind....Ian never had any intention of winning the Jim Dandy or the Dwyer for that matter...they were learning experiences for his colt. WR will be , as Indian Charlie says "further back than nuts on a cat" in the Travers and will finish with a flourish. Putting him into the race last out merely served as a foundation builder for the Travers...

AND its a ridiculous comment for you to call a trainer "some future wager expert" when he is only signifying belief in his colt and executing a plan to get there.....same as Carl did with countless horses. Did you think Unshaded would win the Travers? Lady Joanne the Alabama? Street Sense the BC Juvenile? or Ian's Court Folly destroying Songster at 2/5 in the Amsterdam? etc, etc, etc............

However, if Dunkirk or Munnings were in the Travers you would be all over them?

For having no intention at all of winning those last three races of his ... he sure was bet like a mofo in all 3. Failing at odds of 4/5, 4/5, and 5/2 and taking certainly more money than I expected in his last two.


Yes, Yes, No, No

He's signifying a belief that he overestimated his colt.

By the way, Wilkes lifetime record in Graded Stakes races is 49-7-5-8 with an ROI of $1.96

And he can thank Court Folly for his big upset of 1/9 shot Songster. The same Songster that was 5th beaten almost 8 lengths in the King's Bishop at 5/2 in his next start.

Don't forget that three of those wins were earned by Miss Isella with one perfect rail-skimming trip after another.

NT

Ntamm and Drugs are both being to hard on Warriors Reward, and he will be 10-1, why knock someone on a bomb? I like his chances, Im leaning on QR and Warrior will be my only backup.

Mine That Bird = Giacamo A great Key underneath but no shot to win.

The Woodward will prove nothing if Chirac doesn't run.

Because he couldn't get by Successful Dan in the Northern Dancer.

Hmmmm

First we have all this love for Kensei.

Now, there's all this love for Warrior's Reward.

Let's see: these two combined to go 2-1 around the track last out. And, in the stretch, the great Flat Bold was trying to make up ground on them.

It's not much of a stretch, with OTHER speed (and stalkers) in the race and better closers, to assume that these two probably won't be around at crunch time EVEN IF they get another speed favoring setup/track.

Hard to believe some of the opinions here. Do these people actually BET? Real money?

i agree, how is that dumb money? QR at some ridiculous short price is the dumb money! did anyone see dirge yesterday? bet low, up the track, one race in like 2 years or something. next race, bafferts horse, under serviced, second choice , up the track. no races since november! saratoga is not exactly the place to try and "comeback", the waters are very deep! QR looked great at 6 1/2 but now hes going to stretch out with one race in 6 months. he will almost surely be a short price. shorter than it should be! its obvious he has problems too. i would not be calling myself a genius with a bet like that !