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A MID-SUMMER DERBY BRINGS TOGETHER DERBY AND BELMONT WINNERS IN SARATOGA’S SHADWELL TRAVERS

The only one missing from the $1 million Shadwell Travers is RACHEL ALEXANDRA, who will await the grade I Woodward Stakes at Saratoga on Sept. 5.

Despite the super filly’s absence, the grade I Travers at Saratoga this Saturday has the makings of a super race.

Kentucky Derby winner MINE THAT BIRD and Belmont Stakes hero SUMMER BIRD are among the horses expected to enter the 1 ¼-mile “Mid-Summer Derby” when the field is drawn Wednesday.

Adding depth to the mix is Florida Derby and Amsterdam winner QUALITY ROAD; Jim Dandy and Dwyer winner KENSEI, Peter Pan winner CHARITABLE MAN; Lane’s End winner HOLD ME BACK, Barbaro winner OUR EDGE and Jim Dandy runner-up WARRIOR’S REWARD.

All of the Travers probables are on the grounds at Saratoga. The Steve Asmussen-trained Kensei worked early Monday morning over the main track. Later in the morning, the Todd Pletcher trainee Quality Road had his final breeze for Saturday’s race. The Tim Ice-trained Summer Bird worked last Saturday. Mine That Bird, who underwent a minor procedure to repair an entrapped epiglottis a week ago, is scheduled to work Tuesday for trainer Chip Woolley.

The 140th running of the Travers will be shown on ESPN beginning at 4:30 p.m. ET as a part of the Emirates Airline Summer Racing Presented by the NTRA series.

The Travers Day card will also feature the grade I Ballerina for filly and mare sprinters, the grade I NetJets King’s Bishop for 3-year-old sprinters, the grade II Ballston Spa for female grass runners and the grade III Victory Ride for 3-year-old filly sprinters.

TURF RUNNERS TUSSLE IN A TRIO OF
BREEDERS’ CUP CHALLENGE RACES IN U.S. AND IRELAND

The stakes action is not only in Saratoga. At Del Mar, two “Win and You’re In” events will be run this weekend. Across the Atlantic, in Ireland, another Breeders’ Cup Challenge event will take place at the Curragh.

Saturday’s $300,000 Del Mar Mile Handicap is a qualifier for the $2 million TVG Breeders’ Cup Mile at Santa Anita Nov. 7.

Sunday’s $250,000 Del Mar Handicap will provide its winner with an automatic starting berth to the $3 million Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita on Nov. 7.

Sunday’s Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh is a Breeders’ Cup qualifier for the $1 million Juvenile Fillies Turf at Santa Anita Park on Nov. 6.

GRADE I WINNER GLOBAL HUNTER EYES DEL MAR MILE

GLOBAL HUNTER (ARG), third in last year’s grade II Del Mar Mile, is a probable starter for this year’s edition. Since last year’s Del Mar Mile, the A.C. Avila-trained Global Hunter became a grade I winner with his victory in the $350,000 Eddie Read at Del Mar on July 25.

MONTEREY JAZZ, fifth behind Global Hunter in the Eddie Read, will look for his first win at Del Mar after being blanked in five starts there. Monterey Jazz encountered trouble in the Eddie Read when Thorn Song bore out on the first turn, and jockey Tyler Baze found himself on the lead with a head-strong Monterey Jazz.

The Craig Dollase-trained Monterey Jazz will need a new rider in the Del Mar Mile as Baze is sidelined with a broken finger.

BECRUX (ITY), second to Colonel John in the Wickerr last month at Del Mar, is another Del Mar Mile nominee, as is the third-place finisher FERNELEY (IRE).

BIG FIELD EXPECTED FOR DEL MAR HANDICAP

The Del Mar press office reports that at least 10 horses are “practically assured” to run in Sunday’s grade II Del Mar Handicap at 1 3/8 miles on the turf.

The expected field includes last year’s winner SPRING HOUSE who is in closing in on $1 million in earnings for trainer Julio Canani. TRANSDUCTION GOLD, second to Spring House in the 2008 Del Mar Handicap, is a probable from the barn of John Glenney.

Hall of Fame trainer Neil Drysdale is expected to enter to both OBRIGADO (FR) and ARTISTE ROYALE (IRE).

Sunset Handicap winner BLACK ASTOR, GHETTO and UNUSUAL SUSPECT are also expected to start in the grass marathon.

The John Sadler-trained BLACK MAMBA (NZ) is under consideration for the Del Mar Handicap, and her trainer was expected to make a decision early this week following a Sunday work from the mare at Del Mar.

O’BRIEN EYES FIFTH WIN IN MOYGLARE WITH LILLIE LANGTRY

The Aidan O’Brien-trained LILLIE LANGTRY (IRE) will attempt to provide her trainer with his fifth win in the last 10 runnings of the Moyglare Stud Stakes.

Lillie Langtry enters the seven-furlong turf race following a victory in the group II Debutante Stakes at Leopardstown on Aug. 6. The daughter of Danehill Dancer is currently the favorite for next year’s running of the 1,000 Guineas.

GILE NA GREINE (IRE), an impressive maiden winner at the Curragh on Aug. 16, is likely to represent the barn of Jim Bolger. The daughter of Galileo is a full sister to Cuis Ghaire, the runner-up in this year’s English 1,000 Guineas.

Trainer Clive Britain, who is based at Newmarket, is expected to ship MISHEER (GB), a winner of three of four starts including the group II Cherry Hinton Stakes at Newmarket. Another probable is LONG LASHES, a recent acquisition by Godolphin Stable. The daughter of Rock Hard Ten won a listed race at the Curragh in her debut, and then captured the group III Sweet Solera Stakes at Newmarket for her new connections. An interesting note on Long Lashes – she was bred in the United States by Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito and owner Bob LaPenta.

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COUNTOWN TO THE BREEDERS’ CUP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

A list of the upcoming major stakes races this week:

BREEDERS’ CUP CLASSIC DIVISION

Aug. 29 - $1 million Shadwell Travers at Saratoga. Run at 1 1/4 miles for 3yos.

BREEDERS’ CUP LADIES’ CLASSIC DIVISION

Aug. 30 - $400,000 Personal Ensign at Saratoga. Run at 1 1/4 miles for fillies and mares.

Aug. 30 - $300,000 Molly Pitcher at Monmouth Park. Run at 1 1/16 miles for fillies and mares.

EMIRATES AIRLINE BREEDERS’ CUP TURF DIVISION

Aug. 28- $200,000 Bernard Baruch Handicap at Saratoga. Run at 1 1/8 miles on turf for 3yos & up.

Aug. 30 - $250,000 Del Mar Handicap at Del Mar. Run at 1 3/8 miles on turf for 3yos & up.

EMIRATES AIRLINE BREEDERS’ CUP FILLY AND MARE TURF DIVISION

Aug. 29 - $150,000 Ballston Spa Handicap at Saratoga. Run at 1 1/16 miles on turf for fillies and mares.

TVG BREEDERS’ CUP MILE DIVISION

Aug. 29 - $300,000 Del Mar Mile at Del Mar. Run at 1 mile on turf for 3yos & up.

SENTIENT JET BREEDERS’ CUP SPRINT

Aug. 29 - $300,000 NetJets King’s Bishop at Saratoga. Run at 7 furlongs for 3yos.

SENTIENT JET BREEDERS’ CUP FILLY AND MARE SPRINT

Aug. 29 - $300,000 Ballerina at Saratoga. Run at 7 furlongs for fillies and mares.

Aug. 29 - $100,000 Victory Ride at Saratoga. Run at 6 furlongs for 3yo fillies.

BREEDERS’ CUP JUVENILE FILLIES TURF

Aug. 30 – Moyglare Stud at the Curragh. Run at 7 furlongs on turf for 2yo fillies.