Bernardini Races To Victory at 2006 Travers Stakes Saratoga

Top 3-year-old, Bernardini ran away from Bluegrass Cat in the stretch en route to winning Saturday’s $1 million Travers Stakes at Saratoga Race Course. With this win, Bernardini could be on his way to winning the Eclipse Award as Horse of the Year.

Bernardini won the Preakness but overshadowed by Barbaro’s near-fatal injury. He then backed up that performance with an impressive nine-length win in the Grade II Jim Dandy Stakes on a sloppy track here July 29. On Saturday, Bernardini again looked like a superstar.

“To have a horse of this caliber, I think it’s great for racing,” Bernardini trainer Tom Albertrani said. “Great to have people cheering for a horse. That’s what it’s all about. Cigar got the attention of a nation and hopefully this horse will, too.”

Javier Castellano took Bernardini to the front where the heavy favorite stayed throughout. Castellano went to the whip in the stretch and Bernardini responded on his way to reaching the winner’s circle by 7 1/2 lengths.

The margin of victory was the largest in the Travers since General Assembly won by 15 lengths in 1979.

Bernardini covered 1 1/4 miles in 2:01.60 and paid $2.70, $2.10 and $2.10.

The runner-up in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes and an impressive winner in the Haskell Invitational at Monmouth three weeks ago, Bluegrass Cat finished second with John Velazquez in the irons and returned $2.50 and $2.60.

Dr. Pleasure, with Cornelio Velasquez aboard, returned $4.70 to show. Hesanoldsalt was fourth, followed by High Cotton and Minister’s Bid.

2006 Saratoga Race Meet, Saratoga Odds, Saratoga Picks, Saratoga Tips, Saratoga Results, Travers Stakes 2006

Is The 2006 Travers Stakes Bernardini's Race?

The $1 million 2006 Travers Stakes in Saratoga, oldest stakes race for 3-year-olds in the country, has attracted a formidable field, including Preakness winner Bernardini.

Trainer Tom Albertrani made this observation on Aug. 11: “Depending on who shows up, this might be a little tougher challenge for him. But he’s been training well.”

The son of A. P. Indy, ridden by Javier Castellano, has reeled off four straight wins in stakes by an average margin of nearly 6 ½ lengths. He is coming off a convincing nine-length victory in the Jim Dandy at Saratoga on July 29.

The likely favorite on Aug. 17 breezed five furlongs in 1:00 2/5 at Saratoga, the second fastest of 20 works at the distance last Saturday. “The track was deep,” Albertrani told Bloodhorse.com.

“He went the last three-eighths in 36 2/5, galloped out in 1:13 3/5 (for six furlongs) and pulled up seven furlongs in 1:27. He’s a very special horse. If he stays at this level and stays healthy, he’s going to be very tough to beat.”

The field for Saturday’s 137th renewal of track’s showcase event, run as the Travers Mid-Summer Derby from 1927 to ‘32, includes horses on the improve like Bluegrass Cat, an easy seven-length winner of the Haskell Invitational.

“He’s been doing well since the Belmont Stakes,” trainer Todd Pletcher said after a record stakes victory in Monmouth’s signature race on Aug. 6. “Although you never envision something as dominating at this. His performance was as good as any 3-year-old’s this year.”

The son of Storm Cat drilled five furlongs in 1:00 2/5 and gallop out six furlongs in 1:13 at Saratoga. Bluegrass Cat, with John Velazquez up, finished second to Jazil in the Belmont Stakes and was runner-up to Barbaro in the Kentucky Derby.

Continue Reading: Bernardini Race for the 2006 Travers Stakes Title >>

[Bet on Bernardini's chances at the 2006 Travers Stakes thru our Summer Horse Racing Contest from All HorseRacing!]

2006 Saratoga Race Meet, Saratoga Odds, Saratoga Picks, Saratoga Tips, Saratoga Results, Travers Stakes 2006