Raison d'Etat

Raison d'Etat

Owner: Juddmonte Farms
Trainer: Bill Mott
Record: 4-1-1-1

PROFILE

By Mary Rampellini

STRENGTHS

He's a horse with upside. Raison d'Etat is a big, rangy, growing individual and he comes into the Travers off a runner-up finish in the Curlin. The race was his first over the Saratoga surface and his first time negotiating two turns, so he has reason to improve. Raison d'Etat should also like the 1 1/4-mile distance, and not just because his sire, A.P. Indy, won at the trip in the 1992 Breeders' Cup Classic. Raison d'Etat has size, and looks like a horse capable of making a sustained run.

WEAKNESSES

He is inexperienced. Raison d'Etat has started just four times, and will give up racing experience to some of his rivals. Raison d'Etat also ran greenly in the Curlin, which was his stakes debut. He shied from both a left-handed and right-handed stick, and against Grade 1 foes there will be less room for mistakes. Raison d'Etat also seems like a horse still learning how to relax and settle, lessons that will come with more two-turn racing.

VALUE

With the Travers expected to draw classic winners Shackleford and Ruler On Ice, as well as Haskell winner Coil and Jim Dandy hero Stay Thirsty, Raison d'Etat should be a generous price for those who believe he could step up and put it all together on Travers Day. For others, he seems best used underneath the favorites, rounding out trifectas and superfectas.