Quality Road the 8-5 choice in seven-horse Travers

Quality Road posting his biggest win so far in the Florida Derby (Guy Gustafson/Horsephotos.com) Even with the late defection of Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Mine That Bird (Birdstone), the results of Saturday’s $1 million Travers S. (G1) at Saratoga should go a long ways in determining the favorite for Eclipse Award honors as the champion three-year-old male. A field of seven was entered Wednesday for the 1 1/4-mile test with each entrant carrying 126 pounds. QUALITY ROAD (Elusive Quality), the Florida Derby (G1) winner who made a successful return to the races when setting a track record in the August 3 Amsterdam S. (G2), was made the 8-5 favorite for the Travers and will break from post 4 under John Velazquez. Forced to miss the Triple Crown due to quarter-crack issues, the Edward Evans homebred was moved to the barn of trainer Todd Pletcher in June and debuted for that outfit in the 6 1/2-furlong Amsterdam, which Quality Road won by 2 1/4 lengths in a time of 1:13 3/5. Quality Road also set a track record in winning the Florida Derby, a victory that came on the heels of a score in the Fountain of Youth S. (G2) at one mile.

SUMMER BIRD (Birdstone), who amended for his loss to Mine That Bird in the
Kentucky Derby when beating that rival in the Belmont S. (G1), should find 10
furlongs suitable. The Tim Ice charge, who was installed the 3-1 second choice
and breaks from post 6, enters off a runner-up placing in the nine-furlong
Haskell Invitational (G1) where he finished six lengths behind Rachel Alexandra
(Medaglia d’Oro). Jockey Kent Desormeaux changed his tactics in the Haskell,
keeping the chestnut closer to the pace than usual in order to offset the speed
advantage the superstar filly possessed, but the additional furlong of the
Travers might prompt the colt’s connections to revert back to deep-closing
tactics.

The connections of Rachel Alexandra, who bypassed this race in favor of next
week’s Woodward S. (G1), will be represented by KENSEI (Mr. Greeley), who has
come on strong of late with back-to-back victories in the Jim Dandy S. (G2) and
Dwyer S. (G2). Though not considered a Triple Crown prospect, the late bloomer
could give owner Jess Jackson and trainer Steve Asmussen the distinction of
having the best three-year-olds of both sexes by the time Saturday night rolls
around. Edgar Prado will ride the 7-2 morning-line candidate from post 7.

CHARITABLE MAN (Lemon Drop Kid) earned his signature victory of the year in
the Peter Pan S. (G2), but did not look particularly strong when fourth in the
Belmont and third in the Jim Dandy for Kiaran McLaughlin. Like Summer Bird,
Charitable Man is trying to follow in the hoofsteps of his Travers-winning sire.
The last father-son combo to take the “Mid-Summer Derby” was Deputy Commander
and Ten Most Wanted, the 1997 and 2003 winners, respectively.

WARRIOR’S REWARD (Medaglia d’Oro), also by a Travers-winning sire, chased
Kensei home in both the Jim Dandy and Dwyer, enduring a horrible break in the
latter as the odds-on favorite. Though only able to plunk up for third that day,
he rebounded to finish a bit closer in the Jim Dandy when taking runner-up
honors. The Ian Wilkes trainee will be seeking his first stakes victory
Saturday.

The Travers field is rounded out by OUR EDGE (The Cliff’s Edge), who romped
by seven lengths in the Barbaro S. (G3) at Delaware Park on July 19, and HOLD ME
BACK (Giant’s Causeway), the Lane’s End S. (G2) winner who failed to hit the
board in three previous non-Polytrack attempts.