Grade 1, $980,000 Runhappy Travers Stakes, 1 1/4 miles, Saratoga, Aug. 8, 2020
(100 Derby qualifying points for first, 40 for second, 20 for third, 10 for fourth)

Winner: Tiz the Law, by Constitution
Trainer: Barclay Tagg
Jockey: Manny Franco
Owner: Sackatoga Stable
Beyer Speed Figure: 109

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Seventeen years after winning the Kentucky Derby with the New York-bred gelding Funny Cide, who pulled off a 12-1 upset, trainer Barclay Tagg and Sackatoga Stable will be heading back to Churchill Downs with another New York-bred who will be a much shorter price in the world’s most famous horse race.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. -- Approaching the three-furlong pole of Saturday’s Grade 1 Runhappy Travers Stakes, Tiz the Law, the clear leader of the 3-year-old division, sidled up alongside the pacesetting Uncle Chuck, an apparent top-ranked contender, and the stage was set for a stirring stretch battle before an empty Saratoga grandstand.

The fight didn’t last long.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Dr Post, runner-up in the Belmont Stakes and third in the Haskell Invitational, worked a half-mile in 50.69 seconds on Friday morning over Saratoga’s main track.

Dr Post, who worked in company with 2019 Grade 1 Hopeful winner Basin – recently transferred to trainer Todd Pletcher – is preparing for a race on Sept. 5, Pletcher said. It could be the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs or the Jim Dandy at Saratoga or the Federico Tesio at Laurel Park, the latter a Win and You’re In race for the Preakness on Oct. 3 at Pimlico.

With his reputation battered by a four-race losing streak since February, Storm the Court, the champion 2-year-old male of 2019, tries turf for the first time in Sunday’s Grade 3 La Jolla Handicap at Del Mar.

It could be a short-term experiment.

When 2020 began, it would have been impossible to conjure the Ellis Park Derby as a stepping-stone to the Kentucky Derby – just as Tommy Drury was oblivious to having a top Kentucky Derby hopeful in his barn.

But when Art Collector goes postward as a heavy favorite Sunday in the $200,000 Runhappy Ellis Park Derby, the reality of this bizarre year will start sinking in even further for Drury.

“If I told you I was thinking Kentucky Derby when I first got him, I’d be lying to you,” Drury said.

All eyes on Saratoga this Saturday. Sure, we’d love to see some larger, more competitive fields on the Runhappy Travers card, but it’s also worth keeping in mind that only a couple months ago, there was no racing at all in New York.

Travers

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Ny Traffic, beaten a nose by Authentic in the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park on July 18, returned to the work tab Thursday at Saratoga, breezing a half-mile in 49.90 seconds over the main track.

Ny Traffic, who got his last quarter in 24.25 seconds and galloped out five furlongs in 1:03.63, is training toward a start in the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on Sept. 5.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Four years ago, trainer Bob Baffert shipped a lightly raced 3-year-old from California to take on a dozen horses, including the winners of two Triple Crown races, in the Travers Stakes at Saratoga. All Arrogate did that day was win by 13 1/2 lengths and smash a 37-year-old stakes and track record by running 1 1/4 miles in 1:59.36.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Naturally, Tiz the Law and Uncle Chuck will command the bulk of the attention – and wagering money – in the Grade 1, $1 million Runhappy Travers Stakes at Saratoga.

However, the recent failures by short-priced horses in the Travers – favorites have won just two of the last 12 runnings – could sway bettors to look beyond the top two choices in Saturday’s 151st running of the race.