The connections of American Pharoah confirmed during an interview with Time Warner Cable News's Marissa Jacques that the Triple Crown winner will run in the Travers Stakes at Saratoga Race Course on Saturday, August 29th.
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.
The Bloodhorse reports American Pharoah owner Ahmed Zayat wants the Triple Crown winner to run in the Grade 1 Travers Stakes at Saratoga Race Course on August 29th.
If he runs in the Mid-Summer Derby, American Pharoah would be the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978, bidding to join Whirlaway as the only horse to have victories in the Triple Crown and the Travers Stakes in their career.
Whirlaway accomplished that feat in 1941.
The New York Racing Association, expecting a boost in attendance and handle because of the appearance, offered to boost the purse of the Travers Stakes to $1.6 Million Dollars if American Pharoah were to run, up $350,000 from its scheduled purse of $1.25 Million.
The Travers, the centerpiece of the Saratoga Race Course meet, is traditionally known as the Mid-Summer Derby, and commonly is the final major three year old stakes before owners race against older horses in preparation for the Breeders' Cup. It is also NYRA's most attended non-giveaway day at Saratoga, and second overall only to the Belmont Stakes in June.
UPDATE: THE NEW YORK RACING ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES ON THEIR WEBSITE THAT RESERVATIONS HAVE SOLD OUT. THE PHONE NUMBER AND E-MAIL ADDRESS BELOW CAN BE USED TO PLACE YOURSELF ON A WAIT LIST...
The New York Racing Association has announced that 130 picnic tables will be made available for advance reservation for Travers Day starting tomorrow (Wednesday, August 13th).
The tables can be reserved for $100 per table, with each table seating a maximum of six people. The table reservation does not include the $10 General Admission for Travers Day.
Reservations can be made at the Reserved Seats Box Office on the race course grounds, over the phone at 1-844-NYRATIX, or by e-mail at boxoffice@nyrainc.com.
Travers Day will be on Saturday, August 23rd, with first post scheduled for 11:35AM.
Labor Day brings the end to the 2013 season at Saratoga Race Course.
As has been the case in the past, the 150 year old oval has seen some memorable moments during the course of the 2013 meet. Here's our pick for the top 5 moments from 2013 at the Spa as we enter closing weekend
5 - Wise Dan, Fourstardave (G2)
The reigning Horse of the Year recipient came to the Fourstardave Handicap on Saturday, August 10th, looking to remain strong on his path to the Breeder's Cup Mile.
Carrying 12 pounds more than the competition, Wise Dan did not disappoint his backers through a stretch drive gaining on front-running King Kreesa. Wise Dan's win was his 8th in a row, and 13th out of 15 starts.
Six furlongs wasn't enough as these two 2 year old fillies hit the wire together in a head-bob finish on opening day of the 2013 Saratoga Race Course meet.
Yes Liz was trying to set up the race for her stablemate, Elena Strikes, by dueling with Brazen Persuasion through the race's opening 3 furlongs. As Yes Liz tired, Elena Strikes started to give chase, but Brazen Persuasion still had something left in the tank.
Bahnah then caught up to the pace-setter, entering a head-bob duel to the wire. But at the wire, Bahnah was unable to stick enough head in front, as the photo showed both horses touching the wire together for the dead heat.
3 - Laughing, Diana (G1)
Laughing survives many challenges in the Grade I Diana.
Laughing turned aside her early duelers, then won the race to the wire with Stephanie's Kitten and Dream Peace trying to catch the 5 year old Mare. The win would be Laughing's second win of 2013. She would later go on to win the Ballston Spa Cup (G2) on the Travers Day undercard, narrowly beating a late-closing Pianist by a neck.
2 - Cross Traffic, Whitney (G1)
Cross Traffic goes wire-to-wire for his first Graded Stakes victory.
After a tough break resulted in a second place finish in the Metropolitan Handicap (G1) at Belmont Park, Cross Traffic proved that he deserves to play with the Grade I horses with a front-running victory piloted by John Velazquez.
Cross Traffic saw some pressure late by Successful Dan, but was able to hold on by 3/4 lengths at the wire. Last year's winner, Fort Larned, was unable to duplicate his success from the previous year and finished a disappointing 5th.
1 - Will Take Charge, Travers (G1)
The Travers and Whitney always provide great races, and it's always tough to choose between the two when it comes to one of the best races of the Spa meet. Last year it was easy - Alpha and Golden Ticket's dead heat made the Travers the best race of the 2012 meet.
This year's nod goes to the Travers because of yet another exciting finish, this time thanks to Moreno, Orb and Will Take Charge. The latter of the three was sitting three lengths back at the 1/16th pole, then gained a strong surge that allowed him to pilot past Moreno and Orb, winning the photo by a well-defined nose.
Will Take Charge came into the race after an inspiring 2nd place finish in the Jim Dandy (G2), finishing 2nd behind Palace Malice. The win was his second graded stakes win, coming in the Rebel (G2) back in March at Oaklawn Park. Will Take Charge ran all three races of the Triple Crown, however faring no better than 7th in the Preakness.
With a strong lineup of races this weekend, it's possible any of the remaining 45 races could knock off these 5. But entering closing weekend, these five are prime examples of why Saratoga Race Course is the Summer Place to Be.
