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| WTEN |
He will bid to become the first racehorse since Whirlaway in 1941 to win both the Triple Crown and the Mid-Summer Derby.
The New York Racing Association previously announced that if American Pharoah were to run at Saratoga, they would boost the purse for the Travers up to $1,600,000, an increase of $350,000 from the previously announced $1.25 Million purse.
The $1.6 Million would be the largest purse ever run at Saratoga, topping last year's Whitney Handicap, which was run for $1.5 Million.
Gates open for the 13 race program at 7:00AM, with the first post slated for 11:45AM. The Travers, the 11th race on the program, is scheduled for 5:46PM.
Tickets for the Travers Stakes are sold out, as the New York Racing Association announced earlier in the meet that attendance would be capped at 50,000 for the race regardless of whether or not American Pharoah would run in the Mid-Summer Derby. As such, NYRA is advising potential visitors to Saturday's races not to come if they have not purchased any tickets in advance.
However, those with season passes will still be admitted to the race course by going through the regular three gates they have all meet long.
American Pharoah enters the Travers on an eight race winning streak after losing his debut race in a Maiden Special Weight at Del Mar in California. His wins include the three Triple Crown races, the Arkansas Derby and Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn, the Del Mar Futurity and FrontRunner Stakes in California. In his last start, he won the Haskell Invitation, defeating rivals Keen Ice and Upstart, both who could be alongside him in the Travers.
According to his owner, Zayat Stables, American Pharoah is scheduled to wrap up his career this October as he heads to Keeneland for the Breeders' Cup Classic on Halloween.
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