Travelator looks good, but history says use caution

Bettors who got burned when they thought Travelator was a sure thing shipping into Finger Lakes for a statebred stakes a year ago will probably be reluctant to take a short price on her again on Memorial Day.

Although she towers over her competition based on a solid third in a Grade 2 stakes two starts ago, Travelator could be vulnerable again when she returns to Finger Lakes for Monday's Susan B. Anthony Stakes.

The Susan B. Anthony is the co-feature on a holiday card that also includes the George W. Barker. Both stakes are restricted to New York-breds and will be contested at six furlongs, and each is worth $50,000.

In the 2004 Susan B. Anthony, Travelator was favored at 3-2, but she had to settle for second, finishing a half-length behind Cologny. Travelator, trained by Stan Hough, made amends less than a month later when she won the Arctic Queen at Finger Lakes.

Now 5, earned a career-best 98 Beyer Speed Figure two races ago when she was beaten by just 1 1/4 lengths in the Grade 2 Distaff Breeders' Cup Handicap at Aqueduct. She returned on May 14 and never was in contention in the Grade 2 Genuine Risk at Belmont.

Those looking for a viable alternative can focus on So Sweet a Cat, a five-time winner in 2004, including the New York Stallion Stakes at Saratoga and the New York Oaks at Finger Lakes.

The 4-year-old , trained by Ralph D'Alessandro, has been idle since October, but shows two bullet works since May 11.

The sleeper in the 11-horse field could be , a Steve Asmussen-trained filly who won her last two starts, both against open allowance company at Aqueduct.

The Barker, which immediately precedes the Susan B. Anthony as race 7, drew just six entrants, probably because of the presence of Top Shoter.

A 6-year-old gelding trained by Charlton Baker, Top Shoter is 4 for 4 during his career at Finger Lakes, including a 5 1/2-length score in last year's Barker.