Quick Look at Travers Saturday's Graded Stakes Races

Each Saturday NTRA and BloodHorse provide a one-stop guide to the day's graded stakes races, capsules and entries. Races are listed in chronological order (all times Eastern). Click on links for full preview.

1:48 p.m.—$600,000 Forego Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course (FS2 and TVG)

Looking to make amends after finishing third as the heavy favorite in the grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt, Bill and Corrine Heiligbrodt's Mitole will attempt to add a third grade 1 win to his resume in Saturday's seven-furlong Forego Stakes. Mitole captured the Metropolitan Handicap (G1) over subsequent Grade 1 Whitney winner McKinzie. Prior to running third in the Vanderbilt, the 4-year-old chestnut had won seven straight races.

Entries: Forego S. Presented by Encore Boston Harbor (G1)

Saratoga Race Course, Saturday, August 24, 2019, Race 5

• Grade I
• 7f
• Dirt
• $600,000
• 3 yo's & up
• 1:48 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Promises Fulfilled (KY)	Luis Saez	122	Dale L. Romans	5/2
2	2Air Strike (KY)	Joel Rosario	122	Philip D'Amato	15/1
3	3Mitole (KY)	Ricardo Santana, Jr.	124	Steven M. Asmussen	4/5
4	4Killybegs Captain (KY)	Eric Cancel	118	John P. Terranova II	15/1
5	5Bon Raison (KY)	Jose L. Ortiz	118	Carlos F. Martin	12/1
6	6Firenze Fire (FL)	Irad Ortiz, Jr.	118	Jason Servis	7/2

2:23 p.m.—$500,000 Ballerina Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course (FS2 and TVG)

Klaravich Stables' two-time grade 1 winner Separationofpowers will look to add a third prestigious race to that list, staying at the same seven-furlong distance in which she won last out as part of an accomplished seven-horse field of fillies and mares 3-year-olds and up in the Ballerina. Seperationofpowers has thrived at Saratoga, winning her debut at the historic track in July 2017 as a juvenile before running third in the grade 1 Spinaway the same year in September. 

Entries: Ketel One Ballerina S. (G1)

Saratoga Race Course, Saturday, August 24, 2019, Race 6

• Grade I
• 7f
• Dirt
• $500,000
• 3 yo's & up Fillies and Mares
• 2:23 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Special Relativity (KY)	David Cohen	120	Robertino Diodoro	12/1
2	2Come Dancing (KY)	Javier Castellano	122	Carlos F. Martin	6/5
3	3Pacific Gale (KY)	Irad Ortiz, Jr.	118	John C. Kimmel	20/1
4	4Separationofpowers (KY)	Jose L. Ortiz	122	Chad C. Brown	9/5
5	5Mia Mischief (KY)	Ricardo Santana, Jr.	124	Steven M. Asmussen	5/1
6	6Minit to Stardom (LA)	Alex Cintron	122	Jose M. Camejo	8/1
7	7Dawn the Destroyer (KY)	John R. Velazquez	118	Kiaran P. McLaughlin	15/1

2:59 p.m.—$500,000 H. Allen Jerkens Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course (FS2 and TVG)

Shancelot, dominant winner of the grade 2 Amsterdam Stakes in his most recent outing, returns to Saratoga Race Course to head a field of nine entered in the H. Allen Jerkens, a seven-furlong race for 3-year-olds. In the 6 1/2-furlong Amsterdam July 28, Shancelot went straight to the lead and extended his advantage at every call, running clear to a 12 1/2-length victory under jockey Emisael Jaramillo's drive. 

Entries: H. Allen Jerkens S. Presented by Runhappy (G1)

Saratoga Race Course, Saturday, August 24, 2019, Race 7

• Grade I
• 7f
• Dirt
• $500,000
• 3 yo
• 2:59 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Shancelot (KY)	Emisael Jaramillo	122	Jorge Navarro	1/2
2	2Call Paul (PA)	Irad Ortiz, Jr.	122	Jason Servis	15/1
3	3Twelfth Labour (KY)	Tyler Gaffalione	118	Dallas Stewart	50/1
4	4Borracho (KY)	Chris Landeros	118	George R. Arnold, II	8/1
5	5Nitrous (KY)	Ricardo Santana, Jr.	118	Steven M. Asmussen	10/1
6	6Mind Control (KY)	John R. Velazquez	122	Gregory D. Sacco	15/1
7	7The Big S (KY)	Manuel Franco	118	Raymond Handal	50/1
8	8Rowayton (KY)	Joel Rosario	118	Don Chatlos	6/1
9	9Hog Creek Hustle (KY)	Corey J. Lanerie	124	Vickie L. Foley	8/1

3:35 p.m.—$400,000 Woodford Reserve Ballston Spa Stakes (G2T) at Saratoga Race Course (FS2 and TVG)

Saratoga's leading trainer, Chad Brown, who has won four of the past seven editions of the Ballston Spa, has entered three: European import Mascha, multiple graded stakes winner Significant Form, and Fifty Five, whom he scratched from Friday's Yaddo to run on Saturday. 

Entries: Woodford Reserve Ballston Spa S. (G2T)

Saratoga Race Course, Saturday, August 24, 2019, Race 8

• Grade IIT
• 1 1/16m
• Turf
• $400,000
• 3 yo's & up Fillies and Mares
• 3:35 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Hogans Holiday (KY)	Ricardo Santana, Jr.	118	Robert N. Falcone, Jr.	20/1
2	2Fifty Five (NY)	Javier Castellano	118	Chad C. Brown	5/1
3	3Secret Message (KY)	Jose L. Ortiz	122	H. Graham Motion	3/1
4	4Significant Form (KY)	John R. Velazquez	120	Chad C. Brown	6/1
5	5Indian Blessing (GB)	Florent Geroux	120	Ed Walker	8/1
6	6Conquest Hardcandy (NY)	Tyler Gaffalione	118	James T. Ryerson	15/1
7	7Scottish Jig (KY)	Joel Rosario	118	William I. Mott	10/1
8	8Starship Jubilee (FL)	Jose Lezcano	122	Kevin Attard	7/2
9	9Mascha (FR)	Irad Ortiz, Jr.	118	Chad C. Brown	9/2

4:12 p.m.—$700,000 Personal Ensign Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course (FS2 and TVG)

Bloom Racing Stable, Madaket Stables, and Allen Racing's multiple grade 1 winner Midnight Bisou, undefeated in five starts this season, looks to keep her perfect record intact while seeking her first career victory at Saratoga Race Course in Saturday's Personal Ensign. Never worse than third, with $2.87 million in purse earnings from 16 lifetime starts, all 10 of Midnight Bisou's wins have come in graded stakes. 

Entries: Personal Ensign S. Presented by Lia Infiniti (G1)

Saratoga Race Course, Saturday, August 24, 2019, Race 9

• Grade I
• 1 1/8m
• Dirt
• $700,000
• 3 yo's & up Fillies and Mares
• 4:12 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Midnight Bisou (KY)	Mike E. Smith	124	Steven M. Asmussen	6/5
2	2Coach Rocks (KY)	Luis Saez	118	Dale L. Romans	20/1
3	3She's a Julie (KY)	Ricardo Santana, Jr.	122	Steven M. Asmussen	12/1
4	4Elate (KY)	Jose L. Ortiz	120	William I. Mott	7/5
5	5Wow Cat (CHI)	John R. Velazquez	122	Chad C. Brown	5/1
6	6Golden Award (KY)	Tyler Gaffalione	120	William I. Mott	8/1

4:49 p.m.—$850,000 Sword Dancer Stakes (G1T) at Saratoga Race Course (FS2 and TVG)

Entering off an impressive allowance level win July 24, Klaravich Stables' and William Lawrence's Annals of Time will make his first graded stakes start since winning the grade 1 Hollywood Derby in 2016 as a 3-year-old. Sidelined for nine months following that win due to a soft tissue injury, he has only raced three times since, winning a second-level allowance race as a 4-year-old at Belmont Park followed by a runner-up third level allowance finish before subsequently winning last out by 4 1/2 lengths at the Spa.

Entries: Sword Dancer S. (G1T)

Saratoga Race Course, Saturday, August 24, 2019, Race 10

• Grade I
• 1 1/2m
• Inner turf
• $850,000
• 4 yo's & up
• 4:49 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Proven Reserves (KY)	Manuel Franco	118	Chad C. Brown	30/1
2	2Tiz Morning (KY)	Dylan Davis	118	Edmund D. Davis	50/1
3	3Noble Thought (KY)	Irad Ortiz, Jr.	118	Michael J. Maker	30/1
4	4Channel Cat (KY)	Luis Saez	120	Todd A. Pletcher	5/1
5	5Pillar Mountain (IRE)	John R. Velazquez	118	Todd A. Pletcher	10/1
6	6Ya Primo (CHI)	Jose L. Ortiz	124	Chad C. Brown	7/2
7	7Annals of Time (KY)	Javier Castellano	118	Chad C. Brown	5/2
8	8Channel Maker (ON)	Joel Rosario	124	William I. Mott	3/1
9	9Sadler's Joy (KY)	Jose Lezcano	120	Thomas Albertrani	9/2

5:28 p.m.—$175,000 Play the King Stakes (G2) at Woodbine (TVG)

Stronach Stables' homebred Silent Poet goes for his first graded victory in the Play the King Stakes. Trained by Nicholas Gonzalez, Silent Poet, a 4-year-old son of Silent Name, heads into the seven-furlong turf feature in winning form. The dark bay was sharp in his 2019 debut on July 21, notching a half-length score over El Tormenta, who will also contest the Play the King.

5:44 p.m.—$1,250,000 Runhappy Travers Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course (FOX)

R. A. Hill Stable, Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Hugh Lynch and Corms Racing Stable's former claimer Tax and Juddmonte Farms regally bred Tacitus, the one-two finishers of the grade 2 Jim Dandy Stakes, renew their rivalry in the 150th running of the Travers. The familiar foes—the 5-2 morning-line favorite Tacitus and the 6-1 Tax—will be meeting for the fifth time this year.

Entries: Runhappy Travers S. (G1)

Saratoga Race Course, Saturday, August 24, 2019, Race 11

• Grade I
• 1 1/4m
• Dirt
• $1,250,000
• 3 yo
• 5:44 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Owendale (KY)	Florent Geroux	126	Brad H. Cox	6/1
2	2Code of Honor (KY)	John R. Velazquez	126	Claude R. McGaughey III	4/1
3	3Highest Honors (KY)	Luis Saez	126	Chad C. Brown	10/1
4	4Laughing Fox (KY)	Ricardo Santana, Jr.	126	Steven M. Asmussen	30/1
5	5Everfast (KY)	Martin Chuan	126	Dale L. Romans	30/1
6	6Tacitus (KY)	Jose L. Ortiz	126	William I. Mott	5/2
7	7Mucho Gusto (KY)	Joseph Talamo	126	Bob Baffert	6/1
8	8Chess Chief (VA)	Mike E. Smith	126	Dallas Stewart	30/1
9	9Looking At Bikinis (KY)	Javier Castellano	126	Chad C. Brown	10/1
10	10Scars Are Cool (FL)	Tyler Gaffalione	126	Stanley M. Hough	30/1
11	11Endorsed (KY)	Joel Rosario	126	Kiaran P. McLaughlin	15/1
12	12Tax (KY)	Irad Ortiz, Jr.	126	Danny Gargan	6/1

9 p.m.—$200,000 Pat O'Brien Stakes (G2) at Del Mar (TVG)

Catalina Cruiser will attempt to duplicate his feat of a year ago when he won both San Diego Handicap (G2) and Pat O'Brien Stakes when he packs highweight of 121 pounds versus six rivals in the 2019 renewal of the Pat O'Brien at seven furlongs. 

Entries: Pat O'Brien S. (G2)

Del Mar, Saturday, August 24, 2019, Race 9

• Grade II
• 7f
• Dirt
• $200,000
• 3 yo's & up
• 6:13 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Lieutenant Dan (CA)	Abel Cedillo	116	Steven Miyadi	20/1
2	2Chief Cicatriz (KY)	Ruben Fuentes	119	Shawn H. Davis	20/1
3	3Jalen Journey (FL)	Norberto Arroyo, Jr.	119	Peter Miller	5/1
4	4Giant Expectations (NY)	Drayden Van Dyke	119	Peter Eurton	7/2
5	5Seven Trumpets (KY)	Victor Espinoza	119	Dale L. Romans	15/1
6	6American Anthem (KY)	Rafael Bejarano	119	Bob Baffert	4/1
7	7Catalina Cruiser (KY)	Flavien Prat	121	John W. Sadler	4/5