Travers week officially begins!
 

Ok, tomorrow morning marks the beginning of travers hype and Travers week. Looking forward to the coverage of this matchup that looks to be unfolding. May the best horse(and his trainer) win.

Knowing your love for Albertrani, I"m assuming you're statement is intended as a declaration that Bluegrass Cat will win the Travers. No? :)

This is going to be great fun - oh boy, I can't wait to see these boards after the race! I just hope it's a nice day and a fast track; it seems like Travers day always comes up gloomy and sloppy..

Not really, I think its a matter of it being kind of fascinating that for once Pletcher is the underdog in a big race like this and that he will actually get the credit he deserves if he wins.
Every time Todd wins a race everyone acts like its no big deal because " he was supposed to". I think seeing him the underdog role is something interesting, don't you?

And Zippy its not about what i think about Albertrani. Its how I feel about the lack of respect that Pletcher gets from many here. You know, he has a lotta well bred nice horses. But he wins a lot with those horses. Its not so easy as you think it is. And when he does win its all ho hum, he was supposed to win. When he loses everyone jumps ugly on him. Its a bull**** double standard and its wrong. Hes not having his best meet ever, but hes still around the 20% plus mark. If he was 1-18(or in his case with so many starters, lets say 4-72 which would be the equivalent) you guys would be roasting him on a spit and degrading him daily. So whats up with double standard? I guess if he wins this one that he isnt supposed to win, maybe some will be forced to give him credit.
The guy is the ultimate professional. And I think even with all hes done he doesnt get the credit he deserves. So I'm not "rooting against" Tom Albertrani and Bernadini. I'm "rooting for" Todd and Bluegrass cat, there is a difference. I will say that if Cat loses I hope Bern wins. Any time you get a horse who has superstar potential its great for the game, and Bern has that potential.

You're right Betsy, this place is going to light up after this weekend, no matter the outcome. I can just see it now.

I don't think you were saying this directly at me, but I'll say it anyway... I've never "roasted" or "attacked" Pletcher. Of course he's the best. I was just prodding you about who you think will win the Travers.

I like the fact that Pletcher's horses (ridden by J.V and for some reason not Gomez) are expected to win at Saratoga....gives me great odds on his 'also rans' (Octave anybody?) and the rest of the field. :cool:

Yes. I know I do.

There's no 3-year-old that can beat Mr. 'dini.. I'll entertain anyone who says Invasor will beat him.. That's absolutely valid for now.. Even Lava Man has a case for the moment.. But no 3-year-old is beating Bern' Baby Bern'..

I don't see the Travers being competitive. Probably a 5-10 length win for Bernardini. I expect BGC to bounce and even his best effort wouldn't keep him within 5 of the winner. Only one horse has a shot at Bernardini this year, Invasor. Bright One might have a shot come BCC time. If I had to bet right now though I would think Bernardini and David Junior will fight it out in the BCC and Bernardini will win by a length.

I love David Junior but you're putting in a lot of faith for him, especially considering that they are training him up to the race.

This isn't going to be much of race, Bernardini will win by 3 over Bluegrass Cat with some longshot rounding out the tri.

Where are all of Baffert's horses? You would think that he would take a shot with either Point Determined, Sinister Minister (who should have ran in the Haskell), or Bob and John. Second or third place money is better than working bullets over and over again.

Bright One is being completely overlooked both as a contender and as a pace factor that is of key importance. His wins have been spectacular, especially his WV Derby. Hes got a lot of speed, a whole lot. Bernadini will not be coasting along with Bright One in the race. I think his presence gives Bluegrass Cat a chance to stalk the hot pace and maybe catch them with a stretch move. Especially if the track plays fair(like it has most of the meet) and gives closers a shot.

Bright One was announced out of the race yesterday.

I dont think people are ho-hum when Pletchers wins. He should be winning at 20% because of the stock he gets. 20% to him is like 11%-14% for the trainer who doesnt get the stock that Pletchers. To me, Pletcher is as good as he is because of the horses he gets. He gets good horses because he is a good trainer. Like any trainer, you are only as good as the horse. Now a great trainers takes a horse and makes into something. Lava Man is a perfect example. A former claimer, O'Neil has found something that works. I have yet to see Pletcher take an average horse and turn him/her into something great. What he does and I admire greatly is that he takes very good horses and makes them very good horses. Basically, he doesnt screw them up. He is by far the best trainer in spotting his horses. The man knows how to win and he is a first class trainer.

As far as the Travers it is going to be very interesting. Bernardini is prob going to have to pass Bluegrass Cat. Of course this all depends on post position. But Bluegrass Cat has got to try and stay in front. BC can be very hard to pass in the stretch. BC is a very very good horse and so is Bernardini. But would anyone be surprised if either of these two didnt win? I mean it is Saratoga, both horses are coming off huge efforts and these horses arent machines.

Geez was he really. I guess I was too busy suffering and sleeping to read that. Where was it announced? Last time I heard he was gonna run if he worked ok.

Take an average horse and make it win? Are you insane or high or both? Fleet Indian was a NY bred who couldnt even beat NY breds until Pletcher got her earlier this year and shes now a grade one winning machine whose been winning her races by the lengths of football fields and is clearly the division leader. And thats what I'm talking about, no respect whatsoever.

DRF ran an article yesterday online on it

Thanks Scav, I assume its in Wednesday's DRF, which I bought this morning but haven't had the energy to open up and read and start doing work on tomorrow's card yet.

Here's the article about Bright One oracle

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Bright One too sick for Travers
By DAVID GRENING

Bright One, the West Virginia Derby winner who most likely would have been the third choice in Saturday's $1 million Travers, will miss the race due to illness, trainer Dale Romans said Monday.

Romans said Bright One was coughing a couple of hours after he breezed five furlongs at Churchill Downs on Saturday morning, and an endoscopic examination detected mucus his lungs. Depending on how quickly Bright One recovers, Romans said, he could be pointed to the $500,000 Super Derby at Louisiana Downs on Sept. 23 or the $500,000 Indiana Derby on Oct. 7.

"He's not coming, as much as I would like to," Romans said. "Better to not be compromised going into a race like this."

The defection of Bright One leaves the Travers with a field of six, including the John Oxley-owned and John Ward-trained duo of Minister's Bid and Dr. Pleasure. Because the Travers has a $1 million purse, New York rules allow the two horses to run as an uncoupled entry. The field for the Travers will be drawn on Wednesday morning in Saratoga's paddock.

The probable field, with riders, is: Bernardini (Javier Castellano), Bluegrass Cat (John Velazquez), Dr. Pleasure (Cornelio Velasquez), Hesanoldsalt (Eibar Coa), High Cotton (Garrett Gomez), and Minister's Bid (Edgar Prado).

Bright One would have been one of the speed horses in the Travers. In the Jim Dandy, won in gate-to-wire fashion by Bernardini, Minister's Bid was the closest to Bernardini from the gate until the quarter pole when Bernardini began to open up. Ward said Monday he does not want Minister's Bid that close to the pace in the Travers. Ward is hopeful that Hesanoldsalt and High Cotton will be the early pacesetters.

"Our friends in racing will be out in the front chasing Bernardini and we won't have to be the animal to take the giant on early in the game," Ward said. "I don't think we're going to be way back, either, but one thing about it, we're not going to be chasing the speed."

On Monday, Minister's Bid completed preparations for the Travers by working five furlongs in 59.93 seconds on Saratoga's main track under exercise rider Danny Ramsey. The time was the fastest of 40 recorded workouts at the distance. Minister's Bid was clocked in fractions of 12.52 seconds, 24.02, 35.77, and 47.52, and he galloped out six furlongs in 1:13.04.

"He worked along pretty good," Ward said. "If he looks all right [Tuesday], I would say we're probably going to be up for the game. There wasn't anything in that work to show me that he doesn't need to run."

Though Minister's Bid suffered his first career loss in the Jim Dandy, Ward said he believes the race was more than a useful one to get him ready for the Travers. Minister's Bid was wide down the backstretch while chasing Bernardini. After Bernardini opened up, it appeared as though Hemingway's Key was going to pass Minister's Bid along the rail, but Minister's Bid came on again to get second.

"I think he's better prepared than he was in the Jim Dandy, when he hadn't been around two turns at all, so I'd have to say he's one step up," Ward said. "And that was a real difficult race around two turns. He never got to come out of the bridle. He was on the bridle the whole time chasing that horse, trying to get position."

The Ward/Oxley tandem will also run Dr. Pleasure, who has not won since taking his career debut over this track last September. He finished fourth in the Jim Dandy.

"Dr. Pleasure is probably going into the race with more uptick than any horse in the field," Ward said.

Ward said that Dwyer winner Strong Contender is available to run in the Travers if something happens to Bernardini or Bluegrass Cat by entry time. Barring that, Strong Contender would most likely be pointed to the Super Derby.

Fleet Indian won 7 times from 12 lifetime starts before Pletcher got her in his barn. The horse was already good. Again, Pletcher took a good horse and kept her good. In fact, Fleet Indian was purchased at auction and then moved to Pletchers barn. But I cant remember what Grade I race she won. Can you re-fresh my mind a little?

You are insane. She never won anything close a to grade one and her figures have improved incredibly. Pull her pp's and take a look.

He was? Dammit. :mad:

I did, the talent was there. The horse is very well bred. Pletcher made a good horse good. What was the Grade I race she won? I cant find it.

Isn't a grade two close to a grade one? LMFAOOOOOOOOOOOOO :D

Sorry Mike, just pulling your chain. :p

Fleet Indian is going to the Personal Ensign this friday. It will be a warm-up for the Pletcher v. Albertrani debate with FI vs. Balleto. :D

Oh Ok the Del Cap is apparently a grade 2 now(used to be major race and a grade one). In any case she runs in a grade 1 this weekend.

Cajun Im really mentally dull right now.

Well maybe she will get her Grade I win this weekend. But she has delveloped into a nice horse. Of course, she isnt beating very much, but that he not her fault. Pletchers has done a nice job with her.

So who is going to fill out the tri; hesanoldsalt, High Cotton or Ministers Bid?

I thought Salt ran huge last time, really huge, and hes had proper rest since then.
My buddy's gf gallops for Pletcher and she says that Cotton has been exceptional in the morning.
Bid needed his last and the post and surface compromised him.
This is a polite way of saying I don't have a ****ing clue!!!

Maybe they'll fill out the super with Salty Pleasure...

:D Who is riding High Cotton in this? Gomez?

:p Hi-C Pleasure!

High Cotton.

It's really too bad that Bright One couldn't make it for this, or a Baffert horse specifically Point Determined :mad:

I think it will be Bernardini and then the rest. I don't think any of the rest matter so put all and all in the other spots. They are so evenly matched once u get past Bernardini.

THat is your list? You have got to be kidding. You are leaving out Cigar and Silverbulletday was much better than Go For Wand and Point Given was much better than Smarty Jones. Good lord man. And you are fogetting Ladys Secret. She raced a few times in 1986 and 87.

I am seriously excited to see this match up. Will it even be a match up w/Bernardini running away with it or maybe BGC running away with it? I am kinda excited about a new late developing 3 yr old coming into their own. OH THIS IS GOING TO BE A FUN RACE TO WATCH.

I like High Cotton and Hesanoldsalt. (Not to win, but to be improving and getting into the mix)

I'll go with Minister's Bid for fun (since Bright One is out.) :D