2011 Travers Stakes (G1)

Date/Track:
8/27/2011, Saratoga Race Course
Post Time:
5:45 PM ET
Distance:
1 1/4 m (Dirt)
Age/Sex:
3 M
Time:
2:03.03

What the Nation is saying about the 2011 Travers Stakes (G1)...

He can beat two Triple Crown race winners and the Haskell winner in one race. He can beat the horse that went on to win the Wood Memorial. He can beat the winner of the Dwyer Stakes. Stay Thirsty is not the Rodney Dangerfield of the Pletcher barn, he is the Rodney Dangerfield of racing. Read More
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  • KyOaksRunner · I think Caleb's Posse deserves the Eclipse, but Stay Thirsty is a clear second. · 160 days ago ·
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  • DeadHeat · Winplacsho, I have to disagree. The Travers has more prestige and hold more value in the year end votes than either the Preakness or the Belmont. People favor it because it's Classic distance of 10f, a distance Shackleford never won at. Also, while Shackleford is a gutsy and admirable horse, he did not "take his show on the road." He has two wins this year, on in allowance company, the other in the Preakness, and he never could return to that winning form. He was well beaten in his last three races, as he was in the FOY, The Derby, and Belmont. He was at every dance, but like First Dude last year, there are two many beats to be a champion. Caleb excelled mainly at Saratoga, however his big win at Churchill demonstrates he is probably not just a Saratoga freak. Based on merits, it's Caleb's award. However, if the stigma comes out, and he should not receive the award, Stay Thirst did the most of the Classic runners. · 160 days ago ·
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Three of the past five winners of the Jockey Club Gold Cup went on to be named 3-Year-Old Champion...Read More
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  • shadowno · Unless Stay Thirsty pops and wins the BCC this should be a no brainer for Animal Kingdom. He won the race they all wanted to win, ran a big Preakness and was injured likely during the running of the Belmont. Even with a BCC win it doesn't get any bigger than Kentucky Derby. · 231 days ago ·
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  • RaTalk_Girl · shadowno, interesting thoughts. I cannot disagree that every 3 year old wants that Derby win, but is it really enough. I do think that your argument about his Preakness run could change my mind. He looked great in the Derby and I do not think the way he ran in the Preakness is second to anyone. It will be interesting to see what the rest of the season brings. · 231 days ago ·
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Whether it was arrogance, ignorance or pathetic prioritizing doesn’t really matter. The New York Racing Association’s handling of its announcement that Sunday’s racing card at Saratoga would be cancelled due to onrushing hurricane Irene marked the lowest point in NYRA’s stewardship of racing in New ...Read More
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  • JohnSigerson · it was bad judgment but rock bottom? Probably not. · 273 days ago ·
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  • POMDETERRE · lighten up · 235 days ago ·
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Today's 1 1/8-mile Ontario Derby asks handicappers to weigh the merits of two important factors: strong recent form or overall preference for a Polytrack surface. Read More
  • BrianZipse · Looks like Derby Kitten appreciates a synthetic surface. · 247 days ago ·
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  • Woodbine · I would say so. I guess he goes to Keeneland next. Would love to see him back here in the...I think it's called the Autumn for older runners on Polytrack. · 245 days ago ·
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What race caught your eye? Who dazzled you the most? Who were you most impressed with and why?Read More
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  • CauseForConcern · DeadHeat, thanks for the acknowledgement. I didn't expect many, if any, to support my choice. THAS and ST met once, in the Florida Derby, and THAS was the better in that race(although a ways back). His time in this last race was 2 seconds faster than when he ran in the Florida Derby(although different tracks). I do believe he's on the upswing, but, then again, he can prove me wrong in the Pa Derby. Looks like that race could shape up to be a good one, with Uncle Mo possibly committing. · 273 days ago ·
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  • jinlie01 · THAS did look strong in his second start off the layoff...just like ST...he looks to get better in the latter part of the racing season. Keeping an eye on him. · 273 days ago ·
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Saturday’s 1 1/4-length victory by Stay Thirsty in the $1-million Travers Stakes was a big deal, and not just because it established Mike Repole’s Bernardini colt as the current division leader of the 3-year-old crop of 2011 that takes turns beating each other at every single opportunity they meet i...Read More
Stay Thirsty took command at the top of the stretch and rolled to a decisive 1 ¼-length victory over Rattlesnake Bridge in Saturday's Grade 1 Travers at Saratoga Race Course.Read More
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  • jinlie01 · Stay Thirsty..solid performance. Wish I just had money on him. Hope he stays healthy and keeps getting better for BC Classic..we know he can run the distance. · 274 days ago ·
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  • DeadHeat · Tim, go back aways in some of my blogs :) Said there was a good possiblility he could take hold of the division since the top races were on his stomping grounds and his breed sugests he would get better as he gets older and more distance. · 274 days ago ·
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Stay Thirsty might be the best 3 year old colt in the country. He is really coming into his own. Hope he runs and wins the classic.
  • jinlie01 · He did look good...lost tons on Raison d'Etat. Obviously wasn't a good pick. "Thirsty" is getting better as the racing season progresses...can't wait for BC Classic! · 274 days ago ·
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Coil was one of the favorites of the race and had good odds, but that's just not enough in a race. There's some bloodline, trainer/jockey partnership, and lots other stuff, but it mainly takes power and guts. :)
Travers candidate J W Blue worked four furlongs in company Saturday morning on the main track as a final serious prep for the “Mid-Summer Derby” on Saturday at the Spa.   Under exercise rider Ricky Legall, J W Blue ran on the inside of workmate Tech Fall, and the two went around virtually on ev...Read More
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  • MichaelPavelick · It also seems like the trainer of J W Blue has SAVED his immature colt for a LATER 3 year old CLASSIC race. This trainer came up with a BIG surprise in the Alabama with Pinch Pie. I'm interested in feedback about the Jockey Trainer combination on J W Blue? · 281 days ago ·
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  • MichaelPavelick · Maybe as 4 year old J W Blue will finally mature and figure out how to break and race like a seasoned professional. · 275 days ago ·
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That's amazing! JW Blue was one of my two picks next to Ruler on Ice. I honestly started to doubt (considering the 31-1 odds), but he managed a third place snag! So exciting and high-paced!
Stay Thirsty Wins the Travers from Rattlesnake Bridge, J W Blue & Ruler on Ice!
Box Rattlesnake Bridge with Stay Thirsty and use Shackleford in tri box
Let's stay with the theme of things, longshots in the major three year old faces. Going to use Velazquez and Rattlesnake Bridge on top of Stay Thirsty and wheel in the double.
Let's stay with the theme of things, longshots in the major three year old faces. Going to use Velazquez and Rattlesnake Bridge on top of Stay Thirsty and wheel in the double.
Heh, does anyone know what channel the Travers is on, NBC is doing weather and news and i dont have TVG. Need to know how to watch at my home
http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/horse-racing/tag/_/name/3-year-olds Horse Racing: 3-year-olds At least the Travers will be fun Perhaps at some point, an IMPROVING 3-YEAR-OLD will actually win more than a single stakes. Someone might become a dominant figure by adding a victory in the Travers to an earlier triumph.
Travers week is the biggest at racing's premier meet. Brian Zipse takes an early look at the field and what to expect...Read More
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  • icyhotboo · J W Blue is a deep closer this track is killing these kind of horses. I would say not on the board I like Rattlesnake Bridge in the exotics. Coil is the key to the race as you said , can he get the distance if he does then it'd him and ST if not it's ST.Shackleford, and I'm going to put in a tri and super that way with 4 under. I make a lot of plays Mike because a race usuallydoesn't go the way you handicap it on paper but Baffert is not going to run his horse against the bias. For me Stay Thirsty keeps getting better so I'll stay with him, thow insome exotics.GL · 276 days ago ·
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  • MichaelPavelick · CauseForConcern, I just put Brilliant Speed in my virtual stable, and will be getting regular updates about him. I'm wondering if the connections shied away from the Travers because of the track bias against closers? · 275 days ago ·
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A Trove of Traditions, Old and NewRead More
  • MichaelPavelick · Saratoga is my favorite racing meet just ahead of Del Mar. The Travers is my favroite race all year. Explains my multiple posts. · 276 days ago ·
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Stay Thirsty, the morning-line favorite for Saturday’s 142nd running of the Grade 1, $1 million Travers, was reported to be all set for the 1 ¼-mile race by trainer Todd Pletcher, a sentiment that was precisely echoed Friday morning by the connections of Haskell Invitational winner Coil, Preakness v...Read More

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