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Story by MC_Excelsior "The Stick" Roman Ruler looks to square off against Flower Alley. Also, Zito tag team packs one-two punch for the biggest race of the Summer. Bellamy Road seeks to avenge Derby loss, Checkov and Reverberate add spice to the mix. We have a Horse Race on our hands ! .....
*Note - If you turn on your sound and speakers, you should hear pleasant Stick News Music in this article !* 8/30/05 - Final Result In a typical 1-2 speed number, that has come to represent this years meeting, Flower Alley wore down Bellamy Road to win the Travers Stakes 2005. It was a big moment for trainer, Todd Pletcher, who made the most of this years meeting and has proven superior talent and depth in his barn this year. Jockey John Velasquez has to also take great pleasure in capturing the centerpiece of the Spa meeting no an improving 3 yr old, who just might make his presence felt at the Breeders Cup this year. Roman Ruler with Jerry Bailey up, raced evenly the entire way around the track and simply held 3rd place position all the way home. The track bias has been very much favoring front runners, and it is almost impossible to close through the stretch and catch a clear leader. The problem for all of us handicappers is figuring out who will have that lead turning for home. Kudos to Pletcher, Johnny V and Flower Alley for a great race. 8/24/05 - The Travers Stakes at Saratoga review (pre-race) The weekend all horse racing fans have waited for this Summer is finally here. The famous Travers Stakes, the Mid-Summer Derby will be run this Saturday at Saratoga Race Track in beautiful Saratoga Springs. We will be updating this Super Story as the week goes progresses and we know Post Positions and the final field size. What a shame Afleet Alex missed this race, he could have stamped his name as immortal with a victory against this field. Now Alex will only be remembered as a 2/3 Triple Crown horse who was great, but did not win enough races to truly stamp himself as special or immortal. The Travers Stakes(SARATOGA SPRINGS-NY) - Preview.
The big one is finally here. Consider this race, Kentucky Derby, Part II. While not officially being a part of the Triple Crown, this race could be called the fourth leg in the Quad Crown, or as we have mentioned before, the Breeders Cup for 3 year olds. Due to the fact that 3 year olds run against older horses in the Breeders Cup Classic, there is no Breeders Cup race just for the 3 year olds. You should consider the Travers as that missing Breeders Cup race. It is worth $1,000,000 in purse money and will be run at the classic American distance of 1 1/4 Miles on the dirt. Here is our rundown on the leading contenders pre-race, Tuesday. Bellamy Road-Andromeda's Hero
Zito trainee, Bellamy Road, looked awesome in crushing a decent Wood Memorial field. This one was terribly overbet into the Kentucky Derby and suffered all the classic KY Derby problems. Bellamy Road is a confirmed front runner, thus when he was sandwiched among 20 horses, was in a very tough spot to win that race. A very powerful long striding horse, Bellamy Road can get very brave when he makes the lead. We like this one a lot, but there are rumors buzzing around if he will even run. There is open debate by the Bellamy Road camp about racing him in the Travers or the $250,000 Kings Bishop at 7 Furlongs. Also, another Zito trainee, Andromeda's Hero is scheduled to race in the Travers. Andromeda's Hero is a powerful closer who may find the Travers distance ideal for his powerful late run. While it may make perfect sense to run Bellamy Road in the Kings Bishop, will anyone remember him for a victory in that race ? The Travers is a once in a lifetime race, where you either run to win, or you lose. Whatever happenes, at least your trying your best to get the job done and win your horse immortality. Lets weigh the Kings Bishop winners purse against the Travers. Kings Bishop $250K: is $150K for the winner. Travers $1 Mil: is $600K for the winner. However, its also an immortal's race. The winner of the Travers will be known forever, many years after this years race has been run. The winner of the Kings Bishop will receive sprinter recognitions, but not much else, other then a favored status going into the Breeders Cup Sprint. Is that what Bellamy Road should be ? A Sprinter ? Bellamy Road won the Wood, and it makes perfect sense to run him in the Travers. Even if he loses, at least we know he tried his best and could not make the distance. If he wins in the Kings Bishop, he's running out of position against older horses and seasoned Sprinters. It would take him right out of the 3 year old picture, and this horse was the favorite in the Kentucky Derby. For our part, we hope Bellamy Road runs well in the Travers. Even a 2nd place finish is worth double the winners share in the Kings Bishop. Plus the Travers Stakes is where Bellamy Road belongs. Flower Alley
This monster won the Jim Dandy in a overwhemling performance, and looks very well poised for top trainer, Todd Pletcher. This horse may coronate Pletcher as the King of Saratoga's trainers. However, he will have to face his arch rival, Roman Ruler. While you may think that Flower Alley had his chances to shine earlier in the year and could not run with the top 3 year olds, always keep in mind that horses develop and mature over the course of their 3 year old season. It is very possible, Flower Alley is peaking at the perfect time in his 3 year old season. If this is the case, we may have a monster hiding in the bushes. A wolf in sheep's clothing may be waiting to pounce on this crack field on Saturday. Roman Ruler
There was a time when they could not a run a stakes race for 3 year olds with a Bob Baffert trained horse. They would have to cancel the race with Baff(well not really). For this years running of The Travers, Baffert has the very strong and hard driving, Roman Ruler. Without exception, this is the finest son of Fusaichi Pegasus in training. After a determined and gritty effort in the Haskell Stakes at a very hot and humid, Monmouth Park, Roman Ruler appears fresh and ready for racing. What many people don't realize about Roman Ruler, is that he ran very well as a two year old, and he ever faced and ran better then, Afleet Alex ! Roman Ruler has developed into a very powerful stalking horse. He can sit 3rd or 4th and pounce on the leaders in the stretch. This is in stark contrast to his two year old season. As a two year old, Roman Ruler was a deep, power closer who came from way back to win his early races. When defeated by Declan's Moon, everyone said, well Roman Ruler was too close to the pace. They don't say that now about him. All the fans and observers say when they see Roman Ruler run, is .... WOW ! You have to look at Roman Ruler as the seasoned, primed horse whose race this is to win or lose due to what happens to him during the running of this race. He can out muscle the others early or late, but he has to be careful not to get caught too close to a fast pace, or to let a horse like Flower Alley control the pace of this race. If Roman Ruler is sitting chilly in 3rd or 4th as they go into the far turn, he will have a tremendous chance to win. However, if he is running 1-2 with Bellamy Road or Flower Alley through 22:4/5 going into 1:10 2/5 or less, he may be vulnerable and not have his usual strong late kick. Checkov
As in the famous Russian ? Or did they name this one after the bridge officer on the famous original, Star Trek ? Either way, this horse cost an incredible $3.3 Million dollars !!! What kind of job do you have to have or company do you have to run in order to have that kind of free spending money ? Well known, and liked trainer, Patrick Biancone has all the confidence in the world in this 3 year old. While other trainers have considered looking for softer spots for their horses, Biancone looks for ways to better strategize his horses trip and finish. One of the best things Biancone could have ever done, was to put Hall of Famer, Gary Stevens up on Checkov. Gary just does not know the word quit or give up. Gary rides to win, and he also rides to maximize the chances of his mounts. If Gary could only get Checkov in second or third, then he will find a way to do that. While all jockey's ride to win their races, Gary Stevens adds the additional factor of wanting to ride his horse for maximum value. He will try to win the Travers, but if he realizes its impossible or he cant win, then he will keep riding on for 2nd or 3rd money. Thats the kind of jockey Gary Stevens is. He wants to give a horse every chance and ride him to 100% of his ability. No matter where he finishes, you can count on Gary Stevens and Checkov coming in the money, and on giving their all in the Travers. --------------------------------------------------- More updates to follow as we move closer to race day. this years Travers is going to be one of the best in recent memory. Best Regards - MC The Travers Stakes(SARATOGA RACECOURSE-NY) - Post Position draw and final field throughts.
We will be offering selections on all of the races at Saratoga as a *SPECIAL EXPERT LEVEL* *Instant View* selections and at higher levels of information in email delivery format. Please remember to order early, the night before for higher level's of information. Best Regards and Racing, MC_Excelsior ___________________________ *PREVIOUS NEWS SUPERSTORY* --------------------------- The Stick Horse Racing Review of Roman Rulers Win in the Haskell. For for this exciting Stick Horse Racing News Superstory Press Here ---------------------------
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