All-sources handle second-highest for Travers Day card

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - All-sources handle on Saturday’s 13-race Travers Day card at Saratoga was $47,870,984, a 5-percent increase over last year’s $45,596,366 and the second-highest total ever for a Travers card.

Only the 2015 Travers card, which included an appearance by Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, handled more at $49,668,754.

Ontrack handle Saturday was $10,862,094, less than 1 percent higher than last year’s figure of $10,778,993.

Attendance Saturday was 47,725, down 1.9 percent from last year’s 48,630. In 2015, NYRA capped attendance at 50,000, which was the figure it announced.

Saturday’s card had 108 betting interests, compared to 125 last year. The Travers, for the first time since 1982, had three separate winners of the Triple Crown races. The card also had Songbird, who was beaten by Forever Unbridled in the Grade 1 Personal Ensign, and Lady Eli, who won the Grade 2 Ballston Spa.

As he did last year, trainer Bob Baffert won two Grade 1 races including the Travers with West Coast and the Forego with Drefong. Both were ridden by Mike Smith.

Chad Brown won three races, including the Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens with Practical Joke and the Ballston Spa with Lady Eli. Brown has won six races in two days and now leads the trainer standings, 32-31, over Todd Pletcher.

Joel Rosario rode three winners including Forever Unbridled in the Personal Ensign and Practical Joke.