Alpha favored in 11-horse Travers

Last updated: 8/22/12 4:52 PM

Alpha’s only two unplaced efforts have come when he ran outside of New York

(NYRA/Adam Coglianese Photography)

Eleven three-year-olds are set for the 143rd edition of the “Midsummer
Derby,” Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million
Travers
Stakes at Saratoga, and Grade 2 Jim Dandy hero Alpha has been installed the
5-2 favorite on the morning line. The Kiaran McLaughlin-trained colt will break
from post 6 in the 1 1/4-mile event with Ramon Dominguez.

Alpha is looking to continue a trend for his sire, Bernardini, who swept the
Jim Dandy and Travers in 2006. Stay Thirsty, who is from Bernardini’s first crop
of foals, also captured both events last year.

Since the advent of naming divisional championships in 1936, 18 Travers
winners have been named champion three-year-old male, most recently Summer Bird
in 2009. And with the stars of the spring — I’ll Have Another, Union Rags and
Bodemeister are all retired — out of the picture, the Travers takes on new
meaning.

“People always say the three-year-old crop is weak and then you look up and
it’s November 7 and they’re winning the Breeders’ Cup,” McLaughlin said. “It’s
tough to overtake (Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner) I’ll Have Another, but
if you happened to win the Travers and the Breeders’ Cup Classic, you would have
a good chance. It’s a $1 million Grade 1 and a very important race Saturday.”

Alpha opened 2012 with victories in the Count Fleet and Grade 3 Withers
before recording a neck second in the Grade 1 Wood Memorial. The Godolphin
Stable colorbearer got to an awkward start and never fired in the Kentucky
Derby, checking in 12th, but returned from a near three-month layoff with an
excellent performance over a sloppy track last time, leading wire to wire for a
two-length score in the Jim Dandy.

Neck ‘n Neck (white hat) could relish the extra distance of the Travers after flying late to take second in the Jim Dandy

(Bud Morton/EquiSport Photos)

Alpha figures to be forwardly-placed Saturday, especially with the defection
of two-year-old champion Hansen. The speedy gray colt was removed from
consideration Wednesday morning due to a leg injury.

Neck ‘n Neck will look to improve by one spot off his late-running second in
the Jim Dandy. He was no factor earlier this season against stakes rivals, but
the Ian Wilkes pupil has turned things around lately, recording a 6 1/2-length
allowance tally prior to a smashing 7 1/4-length decision in the Grade 3 Matt
Winn Stakes at Churchill Downs two starts back. Leandro Goncalves will be in to
ride the dark bay son of Flower Alley, who is listed as the 9-2 third choice on
the morning line.

Grade 1 Haskell Invitational runner-up Nonios is the 4-1 second choice. The
Jerry Hollendorfer charge captured his stakes debut, the Grade 3 Affirmed three
starts back, and then recorded a fast-closing second in the Grade 2 Swaps at
Hollywood Park. The late-blooming son of Pleasantly Perfect will receive a rider
switch to John Velazquez.

Street Life (5-1 morning line) and Liaison (8-1) both merit respect. The Chad
Brown-conditioned Street Life closed belatedly for fourth in the Grade 1 Belmont
Stakes prior to a good-looking, 1 3/4-length decision in the July 27 Curlin
Stakes at Saratoga. Jose Lezcano will be back in the saddle. Liaison, a Grade
1-winning juvenile, will look to provide Hall of Famer Bob Baffert with his
second Travers victory. The late-running son of Indian Charlie had little chance
behind a slow pace in the Jim Dandy, but registered a 119 BRIS Late Pace rating
when finishing strongly for third. Rafael Bejarano will travel from Del Mar for
the mount.

Other fringe candidates include Haskell third Stealcase; Curlin runner-up
Five Sixteen; and Belmont Stakes third Atigun, who will look to rebound from a
disappointing sixth in the Jim Dandy. Grade 2-placed longshots Fast Falcon and
Golden Ticket complete the field.

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