157th Travers Day: Graded Stakes Undercard Selections

By Rick Francis —-

Once again racing fans are blessed with an outstanding Graded Stakes undercard leading to the main event the 157th Travers Stakes; saddle up and Good Luck !

Race 8) Grade 1 Allen Jerkens Memorial 7 Furlongs 3YO Post Time 3:19 EDT

4) Englishman (DeVaux/Ortiz,J) dominated the Grade 1 Woody Stephens here in June and in the process posted one of the highest BSF throughout today’s card. Son of Maxfield rolls here.
2) Deep Flame (Cox/Prat) ironically this son of Maxfield exits an equally dominant performance in the Grade 3 Maxfield; 2nd best.
5) Local Knowledge (Pletcher/Velazquez) battled to take the G2 Amsterdam by a head here in July; once again expect a strong showing.
4 w/2,5

Race 9) Grade 1 Personal Ensign F&M 1&1/8TH Mile Post Time 3:55 EDT

Two horse race here between 2) Fully Subscribed (Brown/Prat) and 4) Scottish Lassie (Abreu/Ortiz J) as both exit what might have been the race of the current meet the Grade 2 Shuvee. Lassie’s stride shortened in the last 100 yards and Subscribed’s lengthened to win by a half-length. I like a fortune reversal here but one has to include both in multi-race wagers. 4,2

Race 10) (INNER TURF) Grade 2 Lake Placid Stakes 3YO Fillies 1 Mile Post Time 4:33 EDT

7) Nonconsecutivetrms (Walsh/Velazquez) daughter of Not This Time finished second and was a last out winner over the Saratoga lawn. Her place effort two back was on the inner course and a 16th longer. Today’s distance cut back gets her the nod and blows up the Late Pick-5 plays. 1) Queen of Hawaii (Antonacci/Ortiz, J) makes it close. 5) Naomis (Brown/Prat) fills out tri’s.

Race 11) Grade 1 Forego Stakes 7 Furlongs Post Time 5:11 EDT

5) Book’em Danno (Ryan/Lopez); gelded son of Bucchero has won 5 of 6 Spa starts along with a third. 5 year old has an undeniable chance should he win this and close out the BC Sprint to enter Rscing’s Hall of Fame as a sprinter of which there are not many in that clas. #5

Race 12) Grade 1 Ballerina Stakes F&M 7 Furlongs Post Time 5:49 EDT

7) Ways and Means (Brown/Prat); horse for the course 6 5-1-0; only off the board once at this distance.
12) Eclatant ( Cox/Franco) filly out of Into Mischief enters having won 3 straight one of which was a gutsy nose score in the Grade 1 Madison; she’s gonna fight.
7,12