Tiz the Travers

2020 Travers Stakes at Saratoga!
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Saratoga presents the 2020 Runhappy Travers Stakes.

Tiz the season to be racing! It is Travers Eve and all of the good little racing fans are receiving an early Mid-Summer Derby. The 151st edition of the Runhappy Travers Stakes is indeed the gift that will keep on giving. This Grade I Classic traditionally serves as the highlight of the Thoroughbred racing season for 3 year-old champions. That is still true but this year is so much more mysterious. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, everything is different in 2020. Horse racing has done a marvelous job withstanding a current cancellation culture. Despite alterations to the typical racing schedule, the win, place and show must go on. Tiz the Travers and the presents are the Man o’ War Cup and a post position in the Kentucky Derby!

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Kentucky Derby Is Coming

The 145th Kentucky Derby will race at Churchill Downs on March 4, 2019.
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The 145th Kentucky Derby will race at Churchill Downs on March 4, 2019.
The 145th Kentucky Derby will race at Churchill Downs on March 4, 2019.

Prepare yourselves! Kentucky Derby is coming. Saturday, May 4th, we will celebrate the longest continually held sport in America. There is a lot to know before you witness the “Most Exciting Two Minutes In Sports”. Reference this post for the 145th Run For The Roses.

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Covering Claiborne

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The Bluegrass State is getting a big dose of some much needed rain today.  It was not the best weather for touring but I had a great visit to Claiborne Farm, nonetheless.

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Claiborne Farm was established in Paris, KY in 1910 by Arthur B. Hancock.  Over a century later it is still operated by the Hancock’s.  Seth Walker Hancock, Jr. is the 4th generation Hancock horseman and manager.  The farm sprawls across 3,000 acres.  The pamphlet, provided at the tour, states Claiborne has had 22 Racing’s Hall of Fame horses, 63 Champions, 17 Horses of the Year, 22 Kentucky Derby winners, 19 Preakness Stakes winners, 22 Belmont Stakes winners, and 29 Breeders’ Cup winners.  It also pointed out that half of all Triple Crown winning horses have been sired by their stallions.

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Though it has 50 barns my hour long tour just featured a few of those.  The first stallion I was introduced to was OrbOrb is only 6 years old.  He won the Kentucky Derby in 2013.  He was sired by Malibu Moon and his dam is Lady LibertyOrb’s 1st crop were foaled in 2015.  Kevin, the tour guide, held Orb still so I could pet him.  Kevin lives on the farm.  His father and grandfather both worked there too.  He has an abundance of detailed information on the stallions.

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Flatter came out of his stall for a visit.  He was foaled in 1999 and Claiborne was his breeder.  His sire was A.P Indy and his dam was Praise by Mr. ProspectorMr.  Prospector is buried in 1 of the 3 horse cemeteries on the property.  Flatter is the sire of multiple graded stakes winners including Upstart.

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Lea is adorable and loves to savor his peppermints.  He packs them in his gums and sips water to enjoy the flavor.  Lea is a multiple graded stakes winner and is 7 years old.  He is the progeny of First Samurai and Greenery.  This is his first year at stud.

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Blame by Arch and Liable is 10 years old.  In 2010 Blame won the Breeders’ Cup Classic and an Eclipse Award for Champion Older Horse.  His breeder was Claiborne.  He has sired multiple graded stakes winners since 2011.

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War Front is the most expensive stud on the farm.  The son of Danzig and Starry Dreamer was born in 2002 and won multiple graded stakes.  He retired to stud in 2007.  Air Force Blue and Hit It A Bomb are some of his 2015 champion offspring.  I gave a big hug and he stuck his tongue out!  As Twitter’s famous Woodbine Racetrack barn cat, Gator Kitten (@Gatorkitten) would say, he is “to sassys”!

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The tour concluded with a visit to one of the cemeteries.  Secretariat is one of the most well know Thoroughbreds buried there.  He was purchased in 1972 to stand at Claiborne Farm.  His stall is currently empty.  It is waiting for a pretty special stud to come along.

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I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to Claiborne Farm.  I hope you like the stallion pictures.  Tours are available 7 days a week for most days of the year.  To arrange your own visit go to Claiborne Farm .  Thanks for reading my story.  Check back soon for more Thoroughbred news and adventures.

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Weekday Wagering

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Good morning race fans!  I am headed back for the 4th day of Keeneland’s Fall Meet today, 10/7/15, and I have a little gift, or two, for you from our contributing handicapper!

On the 8th race you may want to go with the 8th horse.  He says, “Stand Guard could improve dramatically, from last start, and be a nice price!”  Race 8 at Keeneland today is 1 and 1/16 miles on the dirt .  It is a maiden special weight race for 2 year olds with a purse of $65,000.  The race should occur at 4:47 PM EST.  Stand Guard is a Kentucky bred horse sired by Awesome Again.  His dam is North Cork.  He has only raced once previously.  That was at Churchill Downs this past September when he finished 5th.  His jockey is Shaun Bridgmohan.  Wayne M. Catalano is the trainer with Gary and May West Stables, LCC for owners.  I’m hoping this colt has a big day at the track today and maybe makes each of you some money.

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As for gift number 2… here’s one more tip.  On Thursday, 10/8/15, look to race #6 at Keeneland and perhaps pick #7.  The tipster said, “Cha Mono ran well last time, at Kentucky Downs, after being in tight early.  Greg Foley (trainer) is a solid 23% switching from turf to dirt.” Race 6 is scheduled to go off at 3:51 PM EST.  It is a race for 3 year olds and up which have never won 2 races.  The purse is $58,000 and the race is 6 and 1/2 furlongs on the dirt.  Cha Mono has had 11 career starts.  In his 1st four races he was always 2nd or third.  Then he won 1st at Ellis Park in July of 2014.  Since then he struggled for the next 4 races before coming in at 2nd and 3rd in his last two starts.  If his history repeats, it looks like he is due for a win this time.  This 4 year old gelding is Kentucky bred between First Samurai and Gregoriana.  His jockey is Corey J. Lanerie.  He is owned by Golden Shamrock Farms, LCC. and trained by Gregory D. Foley.  It would be sweet if Thursday is Cha Mono’s day to win!

I hope each of you enjoyed the tips!  Have some great weekdays at the races.  I wish to see you there.  Drop me a comment, please.  Thanks again!

Update:  Both Stand Guard and Cha Mono came in 4th in their races.  Look for my next post.  Hoping for better luck tomorrow!

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