Horses Wild has the latest news in the horse racing industry from jockeys, trainers, owners and breeders. Get horse racing tips, betting picks from top horse racing handicappers, stakes race results.
Be part of the action as we cover the Triple Crown starting with the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes. See the best of the best horses battle it out in the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships.
When it comes to horse racing, Horses Wild has got you covered.
That’s because owners of the Preakness winner Rachel Alexandra have other fish to fry. In addition, the Kentucky Derby champ Mine That Bird is skipping the 1 1/4-mile contest, his co-owners announced Wednesday, because he needs time to fully heal from entrapped epiglottis surgery on Aug. 18.
“We decided to err on the side of caution and pass this race up and aim down the road to the Breeders’ Cup,” trainer Chip Woolley said with his bosses Mark Allen and Dr. Leonard Blach beside him at Saratoga.
“There’s one little spot underneath the epiglottis pushing up just a tiny bit and after studying and looking at it,” Woolley said, “we’re going to hold off and make sure the horse is okay and not take any chances with the rest of his career.”
Mine That Bird looked good breezing a half-mile in 49 3/5 over Saratoga’s main track on Tuesday, his first workout since throat surgery.
Woolley said the gelding likely will depart Saratoga next week for Ruidoso Downs in New Mexico where he’ll train for a couple of weeks before shipping to Southern California for the $350,000 Goodwood Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on Oct. 10 during the Oak Tree at Santa Anita meeting.
He also will lead the post parade for the $2 million All American Futurity at Ruidoso on Sept. 7.
Meanwhile, Rachel Alexandra will remain at Saratoga where she’ll tackle older males in the 56th running of the Woodward Stakes on Sept. 5.
Coming off victories over Mine That Bird in the Preakness Stakes and Summer Bird in the Haskell, she’s attempting to become the first female to win the 1 1/8-mile race that prompted the New York Racing Association to bump the purse up $250,000 to $750,000.
The best previous finish by a filly in the Woodward was in ‘86 when eventual Horse of the Year Lady’s Secret ran to Precisionist.
Trainer Steve Asmussen made the announcement Monday after Rachel Alexandra worked six furlongs in 1:11 4/5 over a middy main track, galloping out seven furlongs in 1:25 2/5.
Instead, her stablemate Kensei will go for his third straight in the $1 million contest. “Given how well Kensei was doing, I thought he deserved a chance in the Travers,” Asmussen said.
Kensei, the 7-2 third choice breaking from post 7, went a half-mile in 50 seconds on Monday.
Summer Bird, second choice at 3-1 that drew post 7, last worked on Saturday, covering five furlongs in 1:00 4/5 over a muddy main track, a second slower than breezing the same distance over a fast surface the previous Saturday.
During the past 10 renewals of Saratoga’s showcase race, Belmont victors were successful four times. The last double Belmont-Travers winner was Birdstone, sire of both Birds, denying Smarty Jones the ‘04 Triple Crown.
The morning line Travers favorite at 8-5 is Quality Road, post 4. He was the horse to beat the week of the Derby, but foot problems forced him to miss the Triple Crown races.
The son of Elusive Quality comes off an impressive victory in the Amsterdam, breaking the track record for 6 1/2 furlongs at Saratoga on Aug. 3. It was his first outing since capturing the Florida Derby more than four months earlier.
Other Travers Stakes contenders that hit the board in the Jim Dandy behind Kensei:
Warrior’s Reward, runner-up in the Travers prep, has two things in common with Rachel Alexandra. His sire is Medaglia d’Oro and the regular rider is jockey Calvin Borel. The 8-1 shot drew post 3. Sounds like a good hunch play at the right odds.
Charitable Man, third in the Jim Dandy after running fourth in the Belmont and winning the Peter Pan, breaks from post 2 and is 6-1.
The Grade 1 event was officially known as the Travers Mid-Summer Derby from 1927, when Brown Bud triumphed, to ‘32, when War Hero scored, and has retained that nickname.
The fastest time for the 1 1/4 miles was posted in ‘79 by General Assembly: two minutes flat. The biggest margin of victory was recorded in ‘67 by Damascus: 22 lengths. Seven times a nose separated the top two from ‘16 through ‘98 when Coronado’s Quest held off Belmont Stakes winner Victory Gallop.
Tip your horse racing buddies:These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.
10% Bonus + Weekly Rebates
10% Free Cash Initial Deposit
Up to 60% Racebook Deposit Bonus + 5% Weekly Horse Betting Rebate
Get reward points for Free Bets