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 >>

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