Handicapping the 150th Travers Day Late Pick-5

By Matt Pappis
Tracksideview Staff Writer —-

SARATOGA

Race 7) Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens 3yo 7 Furlongs Post Time 2:59 EDT

Shancelot (1): Might be the favorite if he went vs the older in the Forego, this is the fastest horse in the country and maybe for a very long time.

Borracho (4): Coming into his own of late and should put in a good run as he relishes this distance but don’t think it will be enough to come near Shancelot.

Call Paul (2): Gets back on dirt for this race and deserves another effort after a disappointing effort on the turf.

Race 8) Grade II Ballston Spa F&M 1&1/16TH Miles TURF

Mascha (9): Did not look fully cranked in her stateside debut with this being the goal all along; 9/2 would be a great price in a less than exciting rendition of the G2 Ballston Spa.

Scottish Jig (7): With the lack of speed in here I am hoping Joel Rosario can get out to the front and never look back at a big number the cutback in distance and brief freshening should help.

Secret Message (3): Made up a lot of ground in the Diana when facing a different level of horse; she is the one to beat in here.

Race 9) Grade I Personal Ensign F&M 1&1/8TH

Elate (4): She loves this track with her two loses coming to monster Abel Tasman both times; there could have arguably been a DQ; I think she gets revenge on Bisou here who has not shown to like the track as much as others.

Midnight Bisou (1): A classy filly coming in off five straight wins but this is not a track she has ever won over so we are going for a slight upset today.

Wow Cat (5): She ran like she needed one of the bench last out looking like she was going to blow by the winner and then stopped. She might not measure up to these top two but she is a classy individual herself.

Race 10) Grade I Sword Dancer 1&1/2 Miles TURF

Ya Primo (6): Looked like the winner last time going by Channel Cat a few times but couldn’t finish the job. His second start in the states should move him forward and put him in the winners circle.

Sadler’s Joy (9): Had a disastrous trip off the long layoff last time where the top few ran in a circle hoping to get more pace for this one to run into today.

Annals of Time (7): The connections have clearly always been high on this one to keep in training with only 7 starts as a 6 year old. This could finally be his day to shine bright on the big stage.

Race 11 Grade I Travers 3yo 1&1/4 Miles POST TIME 5:44 EDT

Mucho Gusto (7): The 6/1 morning line on this one is never happening, he was half a length away from beating the best 3 year old in the country on his home track while battling him to the wire the whole stretch unable to get by.

Tacitus (6): He spotted Tax about 5 lengths at the start and that is the reason the blinkers are added. Somehow he always finds his own trouble but with the blinkers on I am hope he gets a clean trip.

Code of Honor (2): He is the fresh one of the bunch; I love when Shug trains up to a race he has had a lot of success at over the years.

Tax (12): Winner of the Jim Dandy who could get lose on the lead the only negative here is the post but they will be gunning from the start.

Super Adds: Endorsed (11), Highest Honor (3), Looking at Bikinis (9):

Pick 5 7-11

1/3,6,7,9/ 1,4/1,5,6,7,9/ 2,3,6,7,9,11,12 = $140