14 of division's best tangle in Travers Stakes

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – With the exception of Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist, virtually all the major players in the 3-year-old male division have gathered at Saratoga for Saturday’s Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers Stakes.

Preakness winner Exaggerator and Belmont Stakes winner Creator are the household names in the 1 1/4-mile race, which drew 14 horses, the first full field in the Travers since 1977. But those two face multiple challenges and challengers in the Mid-Summer Derby, which hasn’t been won by a classic winner since 2009.

Exaggerator has won five graded stakes, four of them over sloppy tracks. Coincidentally, his one fast-track victory came here in last year’s Saratoga Special at 6 1/2 furlongs. Creator is coming off a last-place finish in the Jim Dandy here, and his come-from-far-back style doesn’t often fare well at Saratoga.

The Jim Dandy Stakes has produced the Travers winner in seven of the last 10 years. This year’s Jim Dandy was won by a maiden, Laoban, who got loose on the lead and beat Governor Malibu, Destin, and Creator, who have returned to try him again.

:: Travers Stakes: Get PPs for Saturday’s card at Saratoga

Governor Malibu, a New York-bred son of Malibu Moon, may be the value play of this year’s Travers. Though he has yet to win a graded stakes, he finished a good second to Unified in the Grade 2 Peter Pan, was fourth while steadying along the inside in the Belmont Stakes, and had another inside trip in the Jim Dandy.

“I thought he ran very well in the Jim Dandy,” trainer Christophe Clement said. “He was just second-best in the race.”

A fast pace in the Travers might help Governor Malibu to settle and make one run. Joel Rosario rides from post 4.

“The good news is with him, if there’s no pace, he can be right there,” Clement said. “If there’s some pace, he can be further back. He’s very versatile. Joel will make the right choice.”

A Travers victory would be the highlight of what has already been a terrific meet for trainer Chad Brown, who grew up not far from Saratoga in Mechanicville. On Saturday, he has three runners in the field: Curlin Stakes one-two finishers Connect and Gift Box as well as Blue Grass Stakes runner-up My Man Sam.

Connect beat Gift Box by a length in the Curlin for his third straight win. Connect won the race on the lead, but Brown believes the horse is better with a target.

“There’s enough speed signed up here, I think Connect should get a good stalking trip and have a target,” Brown said.

Gift Box made a move along the inside in the Curlin but could not get by while finishing three lengths in front of the rest of the field. Brown said he didn’t think Gift Box liked being inside, and that breaking from post 9 in the Travers could benefit him.

“I’m also not sure the inside was the place to be on that particular day,” Brown said. “Hopefully, Gift Box, with that post, will get a little clear run in the stretch.”

Trainer Bob Baffert has shipped in two interesting horses in American Freedom, second in the Haskell, and Arrogate, who has won three straight races but all in short fields.

The Travers will go as race 11 on a 13-race card that begins at 11:35 a.m. Eastern and includes five other Grade 1 stakes and the return of Lady Eli in the Grade 2 Ballston Spa.

NBC will televise the Travers live during a 90-minute broadcast that begins at 4:30 p.m. FOX Sports 2 will broadcast Saratoga’s races from 2-4:30 p.m. and from 6-6:30 p.m.

The forecast for Saturday is for sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-80s.

Key Contenders

Governor Malibu, by Malibu Moon

Last 3 Beyers: 99-94-97

◗ Among the more consistent runners in the field, he has been compromised a bit by being caught inside in his last two starts.

◗ Steadied in upper stretch when beaten four lengths by Creator in the Belmont.

Connect, by Curlin

Last 3 Beyers: 101-94-92

◗ Had a chip removed from an ankle following a third-place finish in his debut last December at Aqueduct and has won all three of his races this year.

◗ Though he won the Curlin Stakes on the front end, Brown expects him to be off the pace Saturday.

Gift Box, by Twirling Candy

Last 3 Beyers: 99-98-90

◗ After failing to train up to expectations in south Florida this winter, he returned to New York and has done well, winning an allowance race by 4 1/2 lengths and finishing second behind stablemate Connect in the Curlin.

“I think he’s finally set up here fitness-wise and in form to show us his best,” Brown said.

Exaggerator, by Curlin

Last 3 Beyers: 101-83-101

◗ His four triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures equal the total for the other 13 runners combined.

◗ His best races came over a sloppy track and with plenty of pace in the race. No rain is forecast, but the pace is likely to be swift.

“I like a large field,” said Julie Clark, assistant to Keith Desormeaux. “It translates to a more honest pace scenario. I’d rather have a big field and a dry track than four other horses and everyone kind of scrambling.”

Gun Runner, by Candy Ride

Last 3 Beyers: 92-99-96

◗ Came out of a third-place finish in the Kentucky Derby to win the Matt Winn Stakes in a stakes-record time at Churchill Downs.

◗ Was training terrifically for the Grade 1 Haskell but caught a sloppy track and finished fifth. His two worst races came over sloppy tracks.

◗ Must overcome post 14.

Creator, by Tapit

Last 3 Beyers: 87-99-76

◗ Did no running when finishing last in the Jim Dandy. He has trained with more enthusiasm and purpose since.

“I like how he’s done since the Jim Dandy,” trainer Steve Asmussen said.