Travers Day Entries
… are up, and it’s a crackerjack 12-race card, with four graded stakes and only two state-bred events. Not to knock New York horses. Much conversation this evening at the Belmont Child Care Association Western Round-Up was about undefeated Finger Lakes gelding Tin Cup Chalice, winner of the Big Apple Triple Crown Challenge and a bonus of $250,000 when he gamely hung on by a head to capture the Albany Stakes this afternoon. Tin Cup Chalice went wire-to-wire, running the final eighth in :12.19 (and the final third in :36 flat) after a first half in :50.88 (not the sort of fractions usually seen on dirt), paying $6.70. Someone who saw the horse up close in the winner’s circle reported his eyes were bloodshot, claiming that was a sign he truly did run his heart out; his determination is obvious enough watching the replay (CalRacing). Conventionally classier, and favored in the wagering, Big Truck (Tampa Bay Derby) and Icadad Crane (Tesio Stakes) finished third and sixth.
As for the benefit, it was the sort of evening that passed pleasantly in a haze of agreeable company and drinking. There was a line dancing lesson (in which I did not take part part), Eugene Melnyk and Leona and John Velazquez made lovely speeches honoring Tracy and Todd Pletcher for their support of the organization, and D. Wayne Lukas did an admirable job of auctioneering after dinner. Teresa was assiduously taking notes while I was fooling around with Twitter and chatting about Travers Week parties and Dubai with Mrs. Albertrani; for a full and detailed report of the event, best check Brooklyn Backstretch in the morning.
Back to the Travers: Turns out Tizbig, 30-1 on the Travers morning line wheeling back off six days rest, may not have been such a surprise when entries were drawn Wednesday (although Amped, third in the Walton, more than 12 lengths behind Mambo in Seattle, certainly remains one). Trainer Allen Jerkens and assistant were reportedly talking midsummer Derby last Sunday even as the chestnut colt cooled out from his second place finish to impressive Numaany in a nine furlong allowance. With no stars and no standouts in the 12-horse field (Pyro, in post 11, is the 7-2 morning line favorite, while Jim Dandy winner Macho Again is listed at 6-1), it’s easy to see how a veteran orchestrator of upsets would be tempted to take a shot with a 3-year-old obviously fit and possessing some speed …
