Monday's Race Previews
Seven competitive races slated for Monday at Hastings while, at Saratoga on Saturday, there is the little matter of the G1 Travers Stakes and a supporting card featuring four more G1 contests
COULTERBERRY drops several rungs down the class ladder here and should be a warm favourite to land the 13th win of his career. The return to 6½ furlongs shouldn’t inconvenience the 9yo too much, although an apparent lack of front-end speed among the field is less than ideal. Airaffair, who has won off the front before, prevailed by a head last time and is on a hat-trick of wins. We’re in Command takes a half-step down in class and did beat Airaffair back in May.
MAKIN IT UP has hit the board in her last three outings, operates well at the distance and had the morning line favourite Harlan’s Angel behind her over this distance last month. Bakzone again takes some class relief and, while she has yet to recapture last season’s form, can be a danger at this level. Simply Golden does well at 8½ furlongs and makes her first bid of the season at the distance.
Silver Arrow finally broke her maiden, at the tenth time of asking, over this distance back in July and then ran well enough on her first go against winners to suggest she can be a threat here. REMARKABLE GIRL gave them a start and a beating when coming from well off the pace over this distance last time and returns here to the same class level as the win. Be Like Me won emphatically on her career debut in July and reappears for the first time for new connections since being claimed on her first start.
Probably safe to ignore Mr. Quality’s most recent run. He’s been a model of consistency since arriving at Hastings and he should be thereabouts again today. Frankie Machine beat Mr. Quality two starts ago, with Just Make Believe in third and any repeat close to that here puts him in the picture. MY COLLEGE FUND didn’t enjoy the clearest passage last time when dropping in class and he may be closer today as he returms to the same level.
QUAGMIRE had Tiz Meow behind him in his two previous starts and this consistent sort, who has been claimed twice this season, can go close again. Always a Knight has also been popular at the claims box, switching barns four times in the past year, and has been running well enough to suggest he should go well in this extremely wide-open heat. Little Groot won three times last season at the bottom level and returns there for the first time since those heady days.
A fascinating and highly-competitive juvenile contest. WELLSLEY ran okay behind Silarone and Matsqui earlier this month, despite not having the most straightforward race and he should know a lot more about the game this time. Force to Rekn With is also making her third appearance and should be closer. There’s little between her and Tex Tonic and they both chased home the well-named Above Average last time. Roaring Destiny was doing some good work late in his debut behind impressive debutant, Logical Al.
DO YOU WANNA GO’s second to Bellaroo last time, with Bakfire Baby behind, hinted at a return to the form that saw her win twice last season and she can go close here in a baffling finale. Similarly, Living Sky ran Bellaroo close when trying to make every yard of the running back in July and this represents her best opportunity for a while. A repeat of Sungold Beauty’s win over Koala two starts ago would see her go close.
Mike and Drew’s Derby Bar and Grill Picks, Monday August 29
Influential Sire More Than Ready Dies, Aged 25
Brown Saddles Three in Search of First Travers
by NYRA Press Office
Travers Day Highlights
Brown in search of first G1 Runhappy Travers score with a trio of top contenders
Cox relying on Geroux to find right trip for Cyberknife in G1 Runhappy Travers
Hall of Famer Mott seeking first Travers victory with long shot Gilded Age
Conagher aims to give trainer Tomlinson first G1 in H. Allen Jerkens Memorial
Drafted seeking G1 Forego upset
Howling Time cuts back for G1 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial
