A Travers Day Christmas Present

It's the Christmas present that arrives in the homestretch of summer. Travers Day is here, and Saratoga Race Course's premier event for 3-year-olds attracted a capacity crowd of 14 for just the second time in its long history.

Headed by Preakness (gr. I) and Betfair.com Haskell Invitational (gr. I) winner Exaggerator, and the 1-2 finishers from the Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (gr. I), Creator and Destin, the 1 1/4-mile Travers (gr. I) has quite a different feel than last year, when Triple Crown winner American Pharoah   arrived with all the pomp and ceremony of a visiting dignitary. This year, a divisional crown potentially hangs in the balance.

"Totally different scene," agreed American Pharoah's Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, who won a fourth Eclipse Award for molding the colt into the first Triple Crown winner in 37 years, and seemed like a shoo-in to win the Mid-Summer Derby until Keen Ice got up at the wire. "The race is coming up with the 3-year-old championship on the line. It's a huge deal."

The $1.25 million Travers is race 11 on a 13-race card, and the final leg of an all-grade I pick six with a $250,000 guaranteed  that starts with the $750,000 Personal Ensign (6th) and the $500,000 Ballerina (7th).

As well, the Travers anchors a $1 million guaranteed pick four with the $500,000 Ketel One King's Bishop (8th), the Priority One Jets Forego (9th), and the $1 million Longines Sword Dancer.

If that's not enough world-class racing for you, race 12 features Lady Eli makes her long-awaited return to the races in the $400,000 Woodford Reserve Ballston Spa (gr. IIT) for Chad Brown, who picked up career win #1,000 with Mr Maybe in Wednesday's $100,000 John's Call Stakes.

Baffert's "A team" of Arrogate and American Freedom drew the two inside stalls, while Steve Asmussen's pair drew outside, Creator in post 12 and three-time graded stakes winner Gun Runner in 14.

Chad Brown's threesome of My Man Sam (post 3), Gift Box (9) and Connect (10) are in the mix as well, and figure to stake out different positions as the race unfolds.

Travers Stakes (race 11, 5:44 p.m. EDT)

The Travers will be televised by NBC from 4:30-6:00 Eastern, Here's the lineup for the 147th edition in post position order:

Arrogate (#1): He has been a poorly kept secret from Day 1, going off at odds-on in each of his four starts. After a tough-trip debut sprinting in blinkers, he stretched out with the hood removed for three straight wins. The 103 Beyer Speed Figure he received two back equals the top route figure by any 3-year-old this season.

American Freedom (#2): Like his shipping mate, who was also a pricey yearling purchase at the Keeneland September Sale in 2014, this Pulpit colt has been highly regarded from the beginning. He had an excuse in the Pat Day Mile (gr. III) the only time he finished worse than second. His effort in the Haskell was a gritty first try in top company, as he was right on top of a sharp pace while wide and held resolutely after finally changing leads a furlong out. The blinkers are off.

My Man Sam (#3): The son of Trappe Shot   flew home late in the Toyota Blue Grass (gr. I) to get second, earning enough points to make the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) field, where he lost any chance when checked sharply nearing the stretch. He returned five weeks ago and ran well against older when edged by last year's Preakness runner-up Tale of Verve, who is eyeing next week's Woodward Stakes (gr. I).

Governor Malibu (#4): Hard to dislike this honest sort, who has been worse than third just once, when stopped cold late in the Belmont and still able to get fourth. Returned off a seven-week freshening with another hard-trying runner-up performance in the Jim Dandy (gr. II).

Forever d'Oro (#5): Those who fancy stretch runners at big prices are well aware of Dallas Stewart's knack for hitting the board with huge longshots in big races. Tale of Verve finished second at 28-1 behind American Pharoah in the 2015 Preakness, and Golden Soul and Commanding Curve also completed exactas at boxcar odds in back-to-back renewals of the Kentucky Derby. If a mild rally for third in the Curlin is regarded as a springboard to bigger and better things, he has a chance.

Anaximandros (#6): Showed improvement for his Russian-born owner/trainer when stretched out following sprint debut. Ambitiously spotted in grade II West Virginia Derby and ran a respectable fourth. In tough.

Exaggerator (#7): The three-time grade I winner is easily the most accomplished member of the field. He's considered a stretch runner, but note displays of tactical speed prior to the Santa Anita Derby (gr. I), and repeated ability to attain striking position through the third fraction. However, his last four stakes wins, starting with the Delta Jackpot (gr. III) last fall, have all come on sealed wet tracks labeled sloppy or muddy.

Destin (#8): Very fast early in the season, and then a decent sixth in the Kentucky Derby considering a layoff of two months leading to first try past 1 1/16 miles. Gutsy effort in the Belmont forcing the pace and looming a likely winner mid-stretch, only to be run down in the last strides. Javier Castellano won his unprecedented fifth Travers with Keen Ice, who was his fourth winner in the last six years. 

Gift Box (#9): Patiently brought along after training just so-so in Florida during the winter, and turned heads with a big-figure comeback win at Belmont Park. Chased loose-on-the-lead stablemate Connect while clearly second best in the Curlin Stakes. Never out of the money so far.

Connect (#10): Has a development line similar to that of Arrogate, who also ran third in his first start before winning three in a row. Fittingly, this son of Curlin   won the race named for his sire when sent two turns for the first time. Improvement in progressively tougher spots is often a calling card of a top-quality horse, and he has done that with a versatile display of running styles for three different riders.

Majesto (#11): Flashed major potential in Florida, following a maiden win with a second-place finish in the Florida Derby (gr. I). Freshened after a fruitless run for the roses, he returned in the Curlin and raced four wide behind Connect. He races with blinkers on for Gustavo Delgado, who saddled Test (gr. I) winner Paola Queen at 55-1 here three weeks ago.

Creator (#12): Will the real Creator please stand up? When on his game, the gray son of Tapit   is among the best in the crop. A win in the Travers, in fact, would give him three grade I titles this season, matching Exaggerator, and he would have a 2-1 edge in their head-to-head meetings. Looks to join 29 other Belmont winners that took the Travers. The deep closer, trained by a newly minted Hall of Famer, would benefit from a fast pace that spreads out the field.

Laoban (#13): After losing his first seven starts, the Uncle Mo   colt put it all together for a maiden-breaking victory in the Jim Dandy as the rank outsider. Workouts for this have accented rate-and-finish tactics, but even so, it's still hard to envision him being too far back given his natural speed. After getting away with easy fractions, he faces a more uncertain pace scenario and totes nine additional pounds.

Gun Runner (#14): The Candy Ride   colt has won three graded stakes this season, along with a very good effort for third in the Kentucky Derby. Looked ready for another bang-up effort in the Haskell, but had early trouble and ultimately reaffirmed his distaste for off-going. From six starts on fast tracks, though, the Kentucky Derby is his only loss. Classes up well with any racing luck from a difficult post.

The bottom line: Possibilities abound, and here is our A-B-C pecking order for multi-race plays.

A—2, 7

B—8, 10, 12, 14

C—1, 4, 5, 9, 13