The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
American Pharoah eyes place in Travers history
Triple Crown winner looks to join Whirlaway in adding Mid-Summer Derby title to resume
SARATOGA SPRINGS >> With his march into history including an appearance in the Travers Stakes, American Pharoah will attempt to join the immortal Whirlaway as the only winner of the Triple Crown and Saratoga’s Mid-Summer Derby.
Whirlaway accomplished his feat in 1941, a year in which he also won the Saranac Stakes at the Spa.
Before him, Triple Crown winner Gallant Fox finished second to 100-to-1 shot Jim Dandy in the Travers, a stunning loss of eight lengths on a heavy, wet track as the 1-to-2 choice in a field of four.
The only other Triple Crown winner to try the Travers was Affirmed, who finished first in 1978, but was disqualified to second behind his great rival Alydar.
Triple Crown winner Secretariat was upset in the Whitney Handicap by Onion in 1973 and did not contest the Travers.
None of the seven remaining Triple Crown winners raced at Saratoga in the year of their sweep.
They were Sir Barton (1919), Omaha (1935), War Admiral (1937), Count Fleet (1943), Assault (1946), Citation (1948), and Seattle Slew (1977).
The Travers of 1943 was run at Belmont Park.
American Pharoah signaled his greatness last year as a 2-year-old, winning the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity as a maiden on Sept. 3.
He hasn’t been beaten since, and arrives at Saratoga with a winning streak of eight under his belt.
The rigors of the Triple Crown campaign have not slowed him down. American Pharaoh, in the manner of other great horses, got better as the racing got tougher.
In his most recent start, the Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park on Aug. 2, he was in such command of his rivals that he was slowed to a virtual canter in the final 50 yards.
Waiting for him at Saratoga is Texas Red, who has been in training here for five weeks. Winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile last year by a wide margin, the colt with the strong stretch kick has taken kindly to his Saratoga surroundings. Trainer Keith Desormeaux noted on Tuesday morning that the quiet of his Saratoga barn has led to a more relaxed 3-year-old this summer.
Being acclimated to Saratoga could be one advantage for Texas Red, and another could be his victory in the Jim Dandy Stakes on Aug. 1.
Make no mistake about the Jim Dandy, at 1 1/8 miles, being a key barometer for the Travers at 1 ¼ miles.
In this new century alone, Medaglia d’Oro (2002), Flower Alley (2005), Bernardini (2006), Street Sense (2007), Stay Thirsty (2011), and Alpha (deadheat 2012) have won both races.
And Travers winners Afleet Express (2010), and Will Take Charge (2013) were third and second, respectively, in the Jim Dandy.
Frosted, in many other seasons, might be a classic winner by now.
The Wood Memorial winner has only two wins in his career of 10 starts, yet has earned more than $1.3 million by virtue of second place finishes in rich events such as the Holy Bull, Belmont, and Jim Dandy.
Frosted got within a half-length of Texas Red in the Jim Dandy, and the Travers distance will be no problem for him.
Among the longer shots in the Travers, Upstart is a very intriguing proposition.
His two victories over New York-breds at Saratoga last summer were so impressive they propelled him into the Grade 1 Champagne, in which he was second to Daredevil.
He subsequently established himself as an upper tier member of the class with fine performances in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, Holy Bull, Fountain of Youth and Florida Derby.
Upstart’s dismal effort in the Kentucky Derby remains a mystery to trainer Rick Violette, but in any case he rebounded with a terrific third behind American Pharoah and Keen Ice in the Haskell.
If he starts, he is very quick and with the inside post he could pose a problem for American Pharoah in the early stages of the Travers.