Travers

Saturday’s $1 million Travers S. (G1) features a field of seven and the pace
should be hot in the 136th running of the “Mid-Summer Derby.” Only two of 20 Jim
Dandy S. (G2) winners have returned to capture the centerpiece event of the
Saratoga meeting, but we’ll still go with FLOWER ALLEY (Distorted Humor), who
exits a scintillating 5 1/4-length score in the July 30 Jim Dandy.

Trained by Todd Pletcher, Flower Alley followed a maiden victory with an
upset win in his stakes bow, the Lane’s End S. (G2), and then finished second to
Afleet Alex (Northern Afleet) in the Arkansas Derby (G2). Despite these
encouraging results, Flower Alley displayed a lack of seasoning by racing
erratically in those races and didn’t handle a congested 20-horse field in the
Kentucky Derby (G1), checking in ninth. Following a freshening, Pletcher brought
his charge back in the Dwyer S. (G2) and Flower Alley continued to race greenly
while recording a good second, beaten a half-length, to ROMAN RULER (Fusaichi
Pegasus). In the Jim Dandy, Flower Alley dominated on the front end, recording a
109 BRIS Speed rating, and behaved better under jockey John Velazquez.

He’s earned terrific BRIS Speed and Pace numbers from his last two starts
while gaining valuable experience, and we haven’t seen the best yet from Flower
Alley. The improving chestnut should absolutely relish the 1 1/4-mile distance
and figures to sit a good stalking trip off the pacesetting BELLAMY ROAD
(Concerto) before offering his best.

Roman Ruler is a top threat off stellar wins in the Dwyer and Haskell
Invitational H. (G1), and the Bob Baffert-trained colt has been much improved
since getting some time off earlier this year to allow his feet to heal. He
netted a 104 Speed rating for both starts since the layoff and earned impressive
century-topping Late Pace figures. The dark bay colt has trained superbly at
Saratoga since his last outing and would be the top choice if the race was held
at 1 1/8 miles. However, Roman Ruler has never been past nine furlongs and is bred
for speed on both sides of his pedigree. He looks difficult to beat if he can
handle the added ground, but we’ll give a slight advantage to his opponent.

DON’T GET MAD (Stephen Got Even) is our longshot special and will add value
to the exotics. The bay sophomore doesn’t want any part of tracks in Southern
California, disappointing in his last four starts in the Golden State, but he’s
been a different animal elsewhere, recording sharp wins in the Northern Dancer
Breeders’ Cup (G3) and Derby Trial S. and a good fourth in the Kentucky Derby.
Trainer Ron Ellis has wisely shipped his charge to New York, and the
late-running Don’t Get Mad should get plenty of pace up front to set up his rally. He brings commendable Speed and Pace numbers into this start and is bred
to run all day. We’ll look for Don’t Get Mad to come charging late for part
under leading rider Edgar Prado.

ANDROMEDA’S HERO (Fusaichi Pegasus) rallied from far off the pace for second
in the Belmont S. (G1) two starts back but wasn’t able to make any impact when
third in the Jim Dandy last out. Perhaps we should throw out that effort and
expect more from the late-blooming chestnut. The stakes-winning Nick Zito
trainee doesn’t own strong Speed figures, but Andromeda’s Hero gets a good pace
scenario up front and could run late for part.

Bellamy Road won the Wood Memorial (G1) by a record 17 1/2 lengths
before going off the favorite in the Kentucky Derby, but he finished seventh and
exited the race with an injury. The colt may be talented enough to win
here with a prep under him, but the Florida bred is up against it going 10
furlongs off a 112-day layoff. Fitness is too much of a concern for us, but
Bellamy Road could catch a speed-favoring track. He’ll likely sprint to the lead
under Javier Castellano and take his rivals as far as he can on the front end.

CHEKHOV (Pulpit), a $3.3 million two-year-old in training purchase, is still
only a maiden winner and hasn’t been effective in his last four outings. He’s
trained forwardly at the Spa for Patrick Biancone and owns plenty of room for
improvement, but Chekhov is difficult to recommend given his recent form.
REVERBERATE (Thunder Gulch) exits a runner-up finish to Flower Alley in the Jim
Dandy and recorded a good second in the Peter Pan S. (G2) in late May, but the
speedy chestnut colt could get caught chasing a fast early pace and would be a
surprise challenger in the end.