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Editor's Note: Below is just a teaser of what Derek Simon offers in his daily horse racing selections. Click to win!
It’s the oldest stakes race in the United States. Scheduled to be run for the 139th time at Saratoga on Saturday, the Travers Stakes boasts a roster of winners that is a virtual who’s who of the American turf. Legendary performers such as Man o’ War, Bernardini, Point Given, Alydar, Honest Pleasure, Damascus, Buckpasser, Native Dancer and Whirlaway have all triumphed in the Midsummer Derby.
And although this year’s best three-year-old, Big Brown, is noticeably absent from Saturday’s field, the 12 that will answer the bugler’s call (barring any late changes), aren’t exactly stiffs. The 2008 Travers features three grade I winners — Tale of Ekati, Colonel John and Da’ Tara — as well as nine graded winners overall.
Among the other races to watch on Saturday’s Saratoga card is the Victory Ride, a grade III sprint for three-year-old fillies that drew Indyanne. Trained by Greg Gilchrist of Lost in the Fog fame, Indyanne is a perfect four-for-four in her career, with a cumulative winning margin of 32 ½ lengths.
Saturday’s Free Picks
All selections (unless otherwise noted) are made in light of the conditions existing at the time of entry. Races taken off the turf, or modified in any way, should be passed.
SARATOGA * RACE 10 (77%) * $250,000 Purse * 7.0 Furlongs * Dirt
10-I’m So Lucky (8/1)
Fair Odds: 9-2
1-Kodiak Kowboy (3/1)
Fair Odds: 5-2
9-Salute the Sarge (30/1)
Fair Odds: 25-1
COMMENTS: As always, seeking value is the key to beating the races and, in this closely matched affair, it is paramount. I’M SO LUCKY has improved his Beyer speed figs in every start and his late speed rations (LSRs) are among the best in the field. Jockey Robby Albarado will need to work out a decent trip from the 10-hole but, if he does, this son of Canadian sprint champ Langfuhr could score at a price. KODIAK KOWBOY (coupled with Lantana Mob) won impressively in his first start for trainer Larry Jones and subsequent workouts show he’s still on the muscle. SALUTE THE SARGE finished off the board just once as a juvenile yet has struggled as a three-year-old, with three straight out-of-the-money finishes. Still, his last race was his best since a win in late March and his LSRs have been improving.
BET(S): WIN on 10 (at odds of 9-2 or greater).
SARATOGA * Race 11 (40%) * $1,000,000 Purse * 10.0 Furlongs * Dirt
8-Harlem Rocker (4/1)
Fair Odds: 7-2
12-Court Vision (12/1)
Fair Odds: 12-1
2-Colonel John (8/1)
Fair Odds: 8-1
COMMENTS: HARLEM ROCKER’s consistently strong LSRs make him the one to beat in here as he tries Grade I company for the first time. Once a highly-regarded Kentucky Derby contender, COURT VISION delivered his best performance as a three-year-old when he lost a head bob to Gio Ponti in the Grade II Virginia Derby on the lawn in his latest start. Today, the son of Gulch returns to the dirt, where he’s won three of seven lifetime starts. COLONEL JOHN had a useful prep in the Swaps. However, the jury’s still out as to whether or not the son of Tiznow can handle the dirt, where he suffered his only out-of-the-money finish in this year’s Kentucky Derby.
BET(S): DUTCH WIN on 8 (at odds of 7-2 or greater) and 10 (at odds of 12-1 or greater).
