“Travers’ aftermath”

Ron Correll
Senior columnist
Tracksideview

What did we learn when the top two finishers in the Travers were basically turf horses? Not much.

Catholic Boy and Mendelssohn hit the front at the start of the mile-and-a-quarter “Midsummer Derby” at Saratoga in upstate New York and that apparently was the key to running first and second in the race.The last time Catholic Boy race on dirt was in the Florida Derby in late March and he was fourth.

In his last two turf races he was put on the frontend and it resulted in victories. I think that was the key in the Travers.His connections plan to keep him on dirt because, as they said, “That’s where the money is.”

Trainer Jonathan Thomas said he will be pointed to the Breeders’ Cup Classic the first of November at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.

Mendelssohn improved over his last effort in Dwyer but he still gave it up late in the lane. I think if this colt gets off to an easy lead on dirt he wins, but if he’s pressured he will buckle late.

Trainer Chad Brown wants to blame the dismal performances of his two, Good Magic and Gronkowski, on the way the track was playing that day. It is known as the “Graveyard of Champions” and Brown said Good Magic didn’t break well and needed to be closer to the front to be a factor. The colt ran wide and near the back of the pack for most of the race. If the track was playing to speed, then Gronkowski didn’t have a chance from the start.

Wonder Gadot’s post may have been her undoing. She’s run that fast before but she was kept down on the inside and threw in the towel past the three-eighths pole. She probably will go back with her own sex for some confidence building, although I still think she’s a very talented filly.I don’t think any 3-year-old can challenge Justify for year-end honors and as far as I’m concerned that colt still is Horse of the Year and I get to vote on that.

I’m not impressed with older horses. The East Coast is excited about Diversify and West Coast likes Accelerate. I just can’t get thrilled about either. Accelerate hasn’t been outside California and we’ll find out what he can do in the Classic. I think the older division is a little thin.But hope springs eternal this time of the year as 2-year-olds get rolling and that’s where my concentration will be until that first weekend in November.