Top Contenders for the Travers Stakes and the Pacific Classic
by Steve Davidowitz | Aug 22 2011
On Saturday, Aug. 27, Saratoga Race Course will host its signature race: the $1M Gr. 1 Travers Stakes. And on Sunday, Aug. 28, Del Mar will host the $1M Gr. 1 Pacific Classic. Don't miss out on what will be a thrilling weekend of horse racing! So read on for the top contenders for each race and then
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TRAVERS STAKES
This year's 1 ¼ mile Travers Stakes, held at
Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, NY, is loaded with talent. Late bloomer Coil is likely to be one of the favorites, while Belmont Stakes winner Ruler on Ice is expected to go head-to-head with Preakness champion Shackleford.
Coil is a son of Point Given trained by Bob Baffert. Likely to be sent off as one of the favorites, Coil has already claimed his first career grade 1 race in the Haskell Invitational at
Monmouth Park on July 31. Also, aside from a runner-up finish in the Gr. 2 Swaps Stakes on July 9, Coil is unbeaten in 2011. He is 6-4-1-1 and has earned $728,560 thus far. His latest breeze was on Aug. 17 at Saratoga and the 6-furlong move was timed in 1:13.06.
After winning the longest and most difficult leg of the 2011 Triple Crown, Ruler on Ice took home third place in the Haskell Invitation Stakes – behind Coil and Shackleford. But history favors the
Belmont Stakes winner: seven of the last 30 Travers Stakes winners also won the third leg of the Triple Crown. Trained by Kelly Breen for George and Lori Hall, this son of Roman Ruler has earned $866,500 and is 8-3-2-2.
Shackleford, winner of the 2011
Preakness Stakes, continues to impress. No worse than fifth in all three Triple Crown races and runner-up in the Haskell Invitational, this son of Forestry turned in a 5-furlong breeze at Saratoga on Aug. 20 timed in 1:00.87. Trained by Dale Romans, Shackleford has earned $1,701,666 from nine starts and is 3-2-0.
Bowman's Causeway, Stay Thirsty, J W Blue and Raison d'Etat are also among the expected for the "Midsummer Derby."
PACIFIC CLASSIC
In the 1 ¼ mile Pacific Classic at
Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, Calif., horse bettors will get a chance to see the champion 3-year-old filly of 2010, Blind Luck, take on male horses. Among those set to spoil her bid are Game On Dude and sprinter Twirling Candy.
With three consecutive victories, Blind Luck is making a strong case for consideration as champion top older female. After a trio of runner-up finishes that began her year, the Pollard's Vision filly won the Gr. 2 Latroienne Stakes at Churchill Downs, the Gr. 1 Vanity Handicap at Hollywood Park and the Gr. 2 Delaware Handicap at
Delaware Park. She has earned $3,279,520 from 21 career starts and boasts a record of 12-7-2.
Winner of the Gr. 1 Santa Anita Handicap on March 5, Game On Dude is looking to break a three-race losing streak. He came in second in the Gr. 3 Charles Town Classic Stakes at
Charles Town on April 16, third in the Gr. 3 Lone Star Park Handicap on May 30 and runner-up in the Hollywood Gold Cup Handicap on July 9. Trained by Bob Baffert, Game on Dude is a son of Awesome Again with $1,024,658 in career earnings and a lifetime record of 11-4-3-1.
With a year-end goal of running in the
Breeders' Cup Classic, Twirling Candy has yet to score a grade 1 title this year but he has several graded stakes win: he captured the Gr. 2 Californian Stakes, held at Hollywood Park on June 4, and the Gr. 2 Strub Stakes hosted by Santa Anita Park on Feb. 5. Twirling Candy is a son of Candy Ride trained by John Sadler and has earned $755,900 from 10 starts. He has an impressive 7-0-1 record but no wins at the 1 ¼ mile distance yet.
Other notable nominees for the Pacific Classic include Caracortado, Jeranimo, Acclamation and Tres Borrachos.
The Pacific Classic is also a Breeders' Cup Win and You're In event, giving the winner an automatic berth in the
Breeders' Cup Classic.
Now you're ready to
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