Litfin's preview: $1 million guaranteed pick four
Travers Day wagering menu
With an 11:35 a.m. Eastern start and 14 races on tap, the Travers Day multi-race exotic menu is somewhat different than normal.
- Rolling pick threes as usual.
- A 50-cent pick five on the first five races as usual.
- An early pick four with a non-guaranteed pool on races 2 through 5.
- A $1 million guaranteed pick 4 on races 9 through 12 – the Ballston Spa, King’s Bishop, Ballerina, and Travers.
- A late pick four with a non-guaranteed pool on races 11 through 14.
- A $200,000 guaranteed pick six on races 7 through 12.
Eight races scheduled for turf
Rain wiped out turf racing Thursday and Friday, and it remains to be seen how many of Saturday’s eight scheduled grass races stay on.
The temporary rails were taken down from the inner course last weekend.
After being set out at the widest 27-foot setting for the past couple weeks, the rails have been removed from the Mellon course for Saturday.
Ballston Spa notes
The pace complexion of the Ballston Spa hinges on whether Dayatthespa stays in for a rematch with Filimbi, or is held out to await firmer footing in Sunday’s Yaddo, which she won last year as a prohibitive favorite.
Dayatthespa posted her most important victory leading throughout the Grade 1 Q.E. II Challenge Cup in 2012, and posted some fast fractions off an eight-month layoff when run down by Filimbi in the De La Rose three weeks ago.
The only other entrant to have won on the lead is the ambitiously spotted Night Song, who remains eligible for preliminary allowance conditions.
The Ballston Spa has gone back and forth between Saratoga’s two turf courses over the years, and this will be the first time the ground will be something other than firm since Alinghi won over good ground at 4-5 in 2005.
Zagora established the inner course record of 1:39.07 taking the 2012 renewal, en route to a division title.
Historical pars
After being sealed and either sloppy or muddy for the past two days, the main track will likely retain a good degree of moisture through the early portion of the day.
Based on results on fast tracks since 1998, here are the average pace-call fractions and final times (rounded to the nearest tenth) for Saturday’s trio of Grade 1 stakes on dirt:
King’s Bishop: 44.40; 1:22.00
Ballerina: 44.90; 1:22.40
Travers: 1:12.00; 1:36.80; 2:02.40
Interestingly enough, the King’s Bishop’s average half-mile is .60 of a second faster than what older horses average (45.00) in next week’s Forego, which is likely due to the fact that 3-year-olds haven’t learned to ration their energy quite as effectively, even by late summer. However, the older horses come home more strongly for a slightly faster final-time par of 1:21.90 in the Forego.
Horse to watch
FUSAICHI RED
Trainer: George Weaver
Last race: Aug. 21, 5th
Finish: 2nd by 3 ¼
Beyer: 59
This second-time starter was forced in after lunging at the break, languished in the rear-half of the field through the opening half-mile, and found best stride late to go clear for the place in a muddy off-the-turf sprint.