Travers Stakes (gr. I)
 

The field, with morning-line odds, is as follows:

1. Helsinki, Julien Leparoux, 20-1
2. CP West, Cornelio Velasquez, 5-1
3. For You Reppo, Garrett Gomez, 20-1
4. Street Sense, Calvin Borel, 3-5
5. Grasshopper, Robby Albarado, 8-1
6. Loose Leaf, Kent Desormeaux, 21-1
7. Sightseeing, Edgar Prado, 6-1

I want to go with Street Sense, but I am concerned because Street Sense is a filly, and they usually don't win the Travers.
Anybody else remember that thread?

Yeah, that was awesome! LOL

I'm curious to see how Grasshopper runs. I think he's a good one.

WOW what a race!!! You know it is one of the biggest races of the year when a horse with all of CP West's accomplishments is only the second choice and not the favorite.
I mean CP West is awesome!
First he broke his maiden and then he won.......well......he hasn't exactly won anything since then but he has hit the board in 5 out of 8 lifetime starts.
SUPERSTAR!

Really..he has done enough already.

I know it, I'm surprised they are even running him and this may dash his BCC hopes.

Travers Travesty
 

What a joke of a race.....
Street Sense in a public workout without Curlin, Rags to Riches, Hard Spun.
The feature race tommorow (Thursday) is so much more interesting than the $1 Million Summer Classic.

The remainder of the entries are up, pretty good day despite the field of the Travers:

http://www.drf.com/entries/25/eSAR25.html?rn=069216

7th (4:20)
Bernard Baruch H. (G2)

1 1/8 Miles (Turf) | Open | 3 Year Olds And Up Stakes | Purse: $200,000

Post # Horse Jockey Weight Claim Price Equip. Med.
1 Shakis (IRE) Garcia Alan 116 L
2 Big Prairie Castellano J J 115 L
3 Drum Major Bejarano R 116 L
4 Linda's Lad (GB) Leparoux J R 117 FTL
5 Outperformance Coa E M 115 L
6 Cosmonaut Prado E S 122 L
7 Karelian Borel C H 114 L
8 Stay Close (GB) Velazquez J R 115 L
9 Silver Whistle Desormeaux K J 116 L
10 Woodlander Luzzi M J 114 L
11 Ballast (IRE) Dominguez R A 116 L
12 Gun Salute Velasquez C 115 L
MTO Evening Attire Leparoux J R 124 L

8th (4:55)
King's Bishop S. (G1)

7 Furlongs | Open | 3 Year Olds Stakes | Purse: $250,000

Post # Horse Jockey Weight Claim Price Equip. Med.
1 E Z Warrior Flores D R 119 L
2 Spin Master Gomez G K 119 L
3 Hard Spun Pino M G 121 L
4 Pauillac Leparoux J R 117 L
5 Longley Velazquez J R 119 L
6 Forty Grams Prado E S 119 L
7 Teuflesberg Albarado R J 121 L
8 Most Distinguished Bejarano R 121 L
9 First Defence Castellano J J 119 L
10 Bold Start Desormeaux K J 117 Blk-On L
11 King of the Roxy Dominguez R A 121 L

10th (6:15)
Victory Ride S. (G3)

6 Furlongs | Fillies | 3 Year Olds Stakes | Purse: $100,000

Post # Horse Jockey Weight Claim Price Equip. Med.
1 Appealing Zophie Bridgmohan S X 123 L
2 Street Sass Borel C H 120 L
3 Russian Gypsy Castellano J J 116 L
4 Graeme Six Luzzi M J 116 L
5 Debbie Got Even Desormeaux K J 118 L
6 Allude Pino M G 116 L
7 Time's Mistress Garcia Alan 123 L
8 La Traviata Leparoux J R 120 L
9 Musical Start Rosario Y 120 L
10 Featherbed Velazquez J R 120 L
11 Ticket to Seattle Dominguez R A 120 L
12 Half Time Crown Velasquez C 116 L
13 Magical Ride Bejarano R 116 A L

Will admit not the most steller field but last weeks edition of the Pac Classic was just as pathetic, with only Lava Man having done anything he still get beat by an allowance horse.

Just the sign of the times
 

I know. Just another example of a premier Grade I Race not attracting a stellar field.

PSH

It is a tough call. The Travers has Street Sense going for it, but at least the Pacific Classic had a nice big field of crappy horses, while this race only has a few crappy horses. As to which is worse, I think it is probably better not to think about it. It is just too depressing.
I am actually getting kind of bored listening to everyone (including myself in a big way) complain about the quality of these races. It sucks, but I guess the thing to do is just sit down, look at the past performances, and focus on trying to find that winning exotic. As a fan of the sport it sucks, but I guess we all just need to shift from fan of the sport to cold-hearted handicapper (most of us typically have a good mixture of both) when races come up looking like this.
So, if the tri isn't going to be chalky and be a repeat of the Jim Dandy, who is it going to be?

this field sucks!!!! nyra has got to be really disappointed with this crap! another field for street sense to run all over

I see that you really took my last post to heart!

I can generally be pretty thrilled over a competive field in a Graded Stakes even if they are not true Grade X, Y or Z types, but unfortunately this has been the second year in a row that we only have one standout and one improving horse (possible two with Grasshopper).

I'm throwing in Grasshopper and Loose leaf just for giggles.

CP West to turn in a hell of an effort here to nip SS 2 steps before the wire.
At least thats how I have it.

what do the sheets say about this race :) :)

It's not like anyone should be real suprised. We've known for weeks that this race was going to come up short. The rest of the card looks outstanding. Full fields, nice turf races and a very interesting Kings Bishop. The Travers has the Kentucky Derby Winner that is trained by a classy guy and ridden by a guy who's added a little excitement to the meet. So fill up your coolers with your favorite beverage and enjoy yourself. I know I'm going to.

nafzger says he's afraid of sightseeing in here. i can understand why. hope that shug wins another travers!

I love Grasshopper, but I'm afraid he might become the wiseguy horse. Hoping for 6/1 or greater.

I like Street Sense, he looks solid.

Street Sense over Sightseeing straight exacta. Let's say it pays $6. Hey a $40 investment would get $240. :) That's what I'm planning to play.

Grasshopper looked good last time, i think he has a shot.

I like Street Sense here but I really think Looseleaf will be the surprise.

Anyone see a morning line for the Kings Bishop ?

past performances out yet?

Travers
http://www.brisnet.com/bris_link/pdfs/darley_85139.pdf

Bishop
http://www.brisnet.com/bris_link/pdf...mans_85069.pdf

thanks!

How is C P West going to nip SS at the wire? C P West should be on the lead the whole time and I highly doubt he'll be coming back at the end if SS passes him...

If anything, it will be SS nipping C P West at the wire. :cool:

Its not like it hasn't been done before though.
Curlin came back and nipped Street Sense at the wire after having been passed by him.

I don't remember Curlin being the pace the whole time during the Preakness. I believe C P West will be up front most if not all of the way, and I think it'll be a bit tougher to come back after 10 furlongs. Do you think otherwise?

no, but regardless of the pace i was pointing out that someone had came back to nip him which should not have happened if you ask me.

i really expect CP to be the pace setter and the whole complexion of the race will depend on what kind of pace he is allowed to set and how much stamina he has. he showed big improvement last time out.

Agreed... and so did Sightseeing. I doubt I'll play this race... if anything, I'll probably put some win money on Grasshopper because I think he's a good horse (not sure how good yet, though.)

Chocolate, Vanilla...Right Doc?

I think a win bet on anybody not named Street Sense is a poor bet in this race. He is about as likely a winner as you could possibly have in a race. ALL of his last five races on dirt are better than ANY of the others here have EVER run in their entire careers, and there is literally no reason to think that he is vulnerable in this spot. If he can track down Hard Spun when that one was loose on the lead going 10f, I am sure he can handle CP West or Grasshopper even if a favorable pace scenario develops for those colts.
Actually, depending on what the board does, a win bet on Street Sense might actually be where the value (albeit not much) is here. I doubt if it will happen but if he goes off at his 3/5 ML in this race, I think there is some value there. He is a 1/9 shot if ever there was one.

I actually completely disagree with this. I see no value in betting Street Sense in that he is sure to be an underlay. He should have won the Jim Dandy with plenty in reserve almost without asking. However I counted 13 cracks of the whip and a lot of action from Calvin to get by CP West who didn't ever go away. I have this theory that this is not his preferred set-up for a peak performance and by that I mean he does well with a solid pace and perhaps bigger fields, with a smallish field and moderate pace he doesn't have the explosiveness. That and the oddities about each and every one of his trips make me just a bit sceptical.

The big thing in his favor is that this race didn't attract any monsters or real up and comers, so it should be his for the taking. I'm looking hard at this Grasshopper, need to check out his tg# from the last race.

I would single SS in multi race bets...P3/P4. Only way to bet the Travers IMO. Then again he might be so heavily played in these wagers that it will still be a waste of money. A good race to not bet if you are capable of watching a race without any action. I am sure I will get sucked into some sort of wager.