Travers Day races 1-6 = 6 full fields, four maiden races, pass for me, good luck
to all.
Travers Day races 7-12 = Horseplayer Heaven.
Interesting decision by NYRA to feature all dirt racing in the late P4. Would
have thought that the Ballston Spa, a graded turf stake, could have replaced one
of the filly sprints to add some surface diversity to the sequence.
Since no day at the Spa is complete without some good grass, I will be playing a
Pick 3 on races 7-9, which includes a 1-3/16allowance race on the turf,
the aforementioned Ballston Spa, and ends with the Victory Ride.
In the Ballston Spa, I may go WPS (a rare bet for me) on the longest mare on the
board. Two races back Danzon, at age 7, won the GR 2 Locust Grove over the CD
lawn. Her Locust Grove triumph came about a month after she was claimed for 80K.
Danzon last raced at Canterbury in a 100K Stake, earning a TG 2.3,
equaling her lifetime best turf TG, a number she had posted twice as a
4YO. After starting only 13 times at ages 4-6, Danzon now makes start number 9
as a 7YO.
Danzon is 20/1 ML; she has no early speed and thus is absolutely dependent on a
quick pace and likely in need of some racing luck.
The shorter priced logical contenders -- Miss Keller, Phola and Maram, come from 3
trainers who have done very little wrong in the past few months. I might be
inclined to toss Phola, even though her last 2 came against Proviso. Phola\'s most
competitive TG # came on a yielding course and I would be inclined to downgrade
her on firm ground, where TG wise she is arguably not as fast as the 20/1 Danzon.
That\'s interesting on Danzon. I think Miss Keller is logical choice but Danzon can spice up the exotics for sure.
Race 7 looks like a real tossup to me (I have not looked at the Form yet to get into the pace).
Otherwise the Travers looks like a great betting race, but maybe I\'m giving too much creedence to this M/L. Trappe Shot 4-1? No way right? Problem is by my count about six of them have a chance so will have to see the board!
Good luck to all.
Interesting Line on Super Saver. But a New Top probably doesn\'t get his picture taken