Late Blooming Afleet Express Takes Travers at Saratoga

Afleet Express, who had only a maiden win on his resume on the first Saturday of May, showed on Saturday that he is a major player in the three-year-old division, holding off Fly Down by a nostril and winning the $1 million Shadwell Travers (G1) at Saratoga.

Trained by Jimmy Jerkens, the colt came into the Travers off a third place finish behind A Little Warm and Miner’s Reserve in the Jim Dandy (G2) at Monmouth Park, and was overlooked by horse betting fans, sent off as the sixth choice in the eleven horse field at 7/1.

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The colt had a near perfect ride by jockey Javier Castellano, who saved ground heading down the long backstretch after racing four wide into the first turn.

Castellano found some running room in the stretch by coming off the rail, surged to the front at the eighth pole and held off Fly Down under a left handled whip in a thrilling finish.

“Turning for home I was very carefully watching the horse on the lead and we tried to squeeze through a little hole,” Castellano said. “I thought I’d win the race by the eighth pole, but he hung a little bit in the last part of the race, and I give credit to the other horse for finishing very strong. I’m very lucky to get the bob and win the race.”

The son of Preakness and Belmont Stakes winner Afleet Alex paid $16.00 for a $2 wager, with Fly Down completing a $114.50 exacta.

Trainer Nick Zito and jockey Jose Lezcano have had a tough luck Saratoga meeting, and it continued with the Travers.

“That’s another second,” Zito said after the race “They’re all tough. I can’t explain it. Sometimes, like I say, you’ve got to be content. It’s just the way the meet’s been going for myself, and Jose.”

First Dude, who prompted the early pace set by Miner’s Reserve held on for a good third, completing a $2 trifecta that paid $970.00.

First Dude has lost seven races in a row, but has landed in the money in five straight Grade 1 races for trainer Dale Romans.

“He’s an honest horse,” Romans said. “He runs his race every time. Eventually he’s going to run a breakthrough race and beat these guys.”

Afleet Again came from far out of it to rally for fourth at 47/1, completing a $2 superfecta that paid $14,844.00.

The biggest disappointment in the race may have been Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver, who never threatened in a tenth place finish.

Trainer Todd Pletcher said, “We were able to get over and get decent position at the break. We were tracking in a good, fast spot, but just came up empty.”

Elliott Walden, racing manager for WinStar, the owner of Super Saver said the Derby winner would be sent to Rood and Riddle Equine Clinic this week to help look for an explanation for the colt’s poor outing.

Trappe Shot was sent off as the 4/1 favorite, bumped with Admiral Alex in the early going and failed to threaten in the stretch, fading to finish ninth.

Second choice A Little Warm, who won the Jim Dandy (G2) in his previous start, was a disappointing fifth as the 9/2 second choice.

Trainer Tony Dutrow said, “We came up a little short, but he’s been a fantastic horse for us, but not today. Johnny (Velazquez) acted like he didn’t have the same horse to finish with today.”

Afleet Express completed an all graded stakes Pick 4 that returned $845.00 on a $2 ticket.

The Bob Baffert trained Rapport started the Pick 4 with a gate to wire score in the $100,000 Victory Ride (G3), returning $6.90.

The $250,000 Ballerina (G1) was won by gate to wire winner Rightly So, who set sharp early fractions and sailed home to win by four lengths, returning $11.40.

The four-year-old filly is trained by Tony Dutrow, and has now landed in the exacta in ten of his 11 career starts.

Speed ruled in the $250,000 King’s Bishop (G1) as well, with Discreetly Mine wiring the field for his third win in a row.

The Todd Pletcher trainee has rebounded nicely after a 13th place finish in the Kentucky Derby (G1), and now finds himself one of the top sprinters in the country after his latest win.

The colt returned $4.10 as the short priced favorite in the field of seven.

His main rival in the race was supposed to be multiple graded stakes winner D’Funnybone, but the Rick Dutrow trained colt tracked the early pace and came up empty in the stretch, fading to finish last.

There are just seven days left in the Saratoga meeting, which concludes on Monday Sept. 6.

Coming up on Saturday are the $750,000 Woodward (G1) and the $250,000 Forego (G1), followed by the $250,000 Spinaway (G1) on Sunday.

The final Grade 1 race of the meet is the $250,000 Three Chimneys Hopeful next Monday.