Travers Stakes Card Sets Betting Record at Saratoga; Epicenter Posts Big Win
Travers Clarence Shepard Day Jr. at battle of Saratoga Race Course is always ace of the larger days inwards gymnastic horse racing, and on Saturday, the annual summer event enjoyed single of its topper years ever.
The New York Racing Association announced the 13-race identity card produced a record all-sources palm of $55.6 million. That’s 6.6% higher than the previous record of $52.1 trillion localize inward 2019.
In addition, the paid attending of 49,672 was the best showing for the Travers Stakes since 2015, and that led to an on-track handle of $10.4 million, more than 10% higher than the $9.4 billion wagered at Saratoga cobbler's last year, when 44,507 came for the Travers.
Wagering on the prestigious race, generated $16.3 gazillion of the handle. It was the main case inwards a identity card featuring sixer stakes and v Grade 1 races.
Epicenter Dominant in Travers
After a natural spring of bitter disappointments, Epicenter has enjoyed a tremendous summertime at Saratoga. He won the Travers Saturday inwards commanding forge as the even-money favourite in the 1-1/4-mile race.
With Book of Joel Rosario aboard, Epicenter stalked pacemaker Cyberknife for most of the firstly Roman mile before making a commanding relocation around the last release to draw forth to a 5-1/4-length win inwards 2:00.72.
Cyberknife, coming turned a win inward the Haskell Stakes, held sour warm closure efforts by Blue Grass Stakes winner Zandon and KY Derby winner Rich Strike to title second.
Epicenter raced considerably inward the KY Derby and Preakness Stakes back inward May, but to each one time, the Steve Asmussen-trained colt found himself losing the guide inward the final strides.
“I reckon that’s what makes racing so great,” Asmussen told NYRA after the race. “You’re bet on past what you’ve done, but what you’ve through antecedently doesn’t catch it through for you. For Epicenter to feature competed inward the Derby and the Preakness and stock-still make this much gymnastic horse now, we’re super proud of that. That’s what makes racing great.”
Epicenter paid $4 to win, $2.80 to place, and $2.30 to show. Cyberknife, the bettors’ 2nd pick at 7-2, paid $4.10 and $3.30, patch Zandon paid $2.90.
With the win, Epicenter is now the potential favorite to win the Eclipse Award for the champion 3-year-old. He’ll potential train at present for the Nov. 5 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland, and Asmussen said the colt may run i more clip before then.
Rich Strike Finishes Fourth
Rich Strike just now missed the get on Saturday, but after a disappointing showing inward the Belmont backwards inward June, the Derby victor may get gained a assess of abide by after an 11-week layoff.
While non the 80-1 shot he was in the Derby, Rich Strike was noneffervescent the 6th select on the gameboard at 10-1. But on Saturday, he and Sonny Leon were within a head up of finishing second, battling deuce other Grade 1 stakes winners to the wire.
“He simply got a small tired inward the lastly 50 yards,” Leon told NYRA. “He did a right task coming backward after the layoff. He’s doing meliorate every bingle time. I think, mentally, he’s growing up.