Sal says that the 2017 Travers Stakes garners its interest from the close competitiveness of a less than stellar group of 3 year old thoroughbreds where parity mediocrity reins supreme. Every time there’s an opportunity for one member of the class to take the step to the head of the class they appear to be more content to put on the dunce cap and head to the corner for a timeout.
And yet,to say the truth, reason and love keep little company together nowadays.
William Shakespeare
sabato 26 agosto
Horse Race Insider – Pricci – TRAVERS 148: Best Betting Race of the Modern Era
Saratoga Special – Travers Day
TwinSpires Blog – Shapiro’s Top Four for the 2017 Travers
TwinSpires Blog – Scully – Improving Irap rates top billing in deep Travers
Horse Racing Nation – Zupse – Why Irap Will Win Travers Stakes 2017
Bloodhorse – Litfin at Large: Handicapping Spa’s Saturday Stakes
TwinSpires Blog – Shapiro’s All-Stakes Pick 4 ticket for Travers Day
TwinSpires Blog – Scully’s Travers Day handicapping blog
Sal’s GI P4 Picks.
Race 8: Pace wise The Allen Jerkens Memorial GI and the Forego GI are the antithesis of each other. The Jerkens has speed to burn and the Forego has none. #1 Practical Joke should be the benefactor of a torrid pace. He’s shortening up to 7 furlongs, he’s unbeaten in four starts at one-turn and he’s 2 for 2 at Saratoga. #7 Coal Front is 3 for 3 lifetime, 1 for 1 at Saratoga and is a late starting 3 year old from the Pletcher barn who’s been running big numbers. #9 American Anthem will also benefit from a hot pace and a reprise of his last effort is good enough to beat all of these today. If any of the pace horses are going to hang on it could be Takaful a son of Bernardini who is 1 for 1 at Saratoga. Sal says that suddenly Bernardini is throwing sptinters.
Race 9: Forego GI. Last time out of the 2 hole #10 Defrong took a sharp left turn. He’s at the far end of the starting gate today and as long as he doesn’t make a sharp right turn, he should be in front and never headed. #6 Mind Your Biscuits is coming off 2 superlative races, but the grapevine says he hasn’t been training well. #4 Divining Rod has put up awesome numbers his last three races is 1 for 1 at the distance. Sal’s still looking at adding #1 Stall Walking Dude into his ticket as the veteran just seems to keep on winning.
Race 10: The Sword Dancer G1 features 2 Euros who have been not been beating up the big boys across the pond. #7 Idaho just finished third to Enable and Ulysses and Sal sees neither of those 2 in this field. #6 Erupt last victory was at Woodbine and Sal says he hasn’t been the same at 5. He’s not in Sal’s ticket. The American contingent are all moving up from GII to GI. Sal says that every time Sal uses #5 Money Multiplier the horse multiplies Sal’s money for the track. That said Sal’s torn between him and #2 Bigger Picture who won a GI 2 races back and just got nipped in his last outing.
Race 11: Sal says that he’s using both #2 Giuseppe The Great and #8 Lookin at Lee on the bottom of his Exactor tickets in the 148th Travers GI cuz that’s where they always seem to finish. As Sal has said this week there’s really no horse that has impressed Sal as a key in this race. Sal’s ticket starts with #10 Irap and includes in order of preference: #7 Always Dreaming, #3 West Coast, #4 Tapwrit, #6 Girvin, and #5 Good Samaritan.
Sal says that Sal’s betting rule is if you can’t get your selections down to 4 for a race then play the guaranteed Favourite – All.
Bloodhorse – Balan – Danzing Candy Retired From Racing After Training Injury
Brisnet – Danzing Candy puts streak on line in Pat O’Brien; Shared Belief comes up tough
venerdi 25 agosto
Sal says that Keelerman has a far more optimistic view of the Travers Stake on Saturday, Sal agrees that Irap and West Coast are 2 of the more playable horses in the race but Sal says that any odds less than 5 – 1 on any horse make that horse unplayable.
Bloodhorse – Johnson – A Horse-by-Horse Analysis of the Travers Stakes
Sal says that there still is not a single horse that made Sal stand up and say I’m a Believer.
Sal says that no matter how hard he looks none of the horses give Sal any Good Vibrations.
2017 Travers Stake PPs
Twin Spires Blog – The 2017 Travers Stakes Betting Guide FREE Download
The 2017 Travers Stakes Betting Guide
Race 8: The H. Allen Jerkens is the former King’s Bishop, and Practical Joke sticks out on the cutback, but it’s hard to ignore the numbers Takaful put up on his return.
Race 9: As good a sprint race as we’ve seen outside the Breeders’ Cup and the concluding leg of the seven-furlong Grade 1 Pick 3. It’ll be a match race to some between Drefong and Mind Your Biscuits, but the value might be on Divining Rod who has run some big races and gets six pounds from the obvious favorites.
Race 10: Finally! A single! I’ve been waiting for Idaho to run in the states since last year’s Epsom Derby, and I plan to make him the cornerstone of my wagering strategy. A huge standout on the Brisnet.com Class Ratings.
Race 11: The big one, and I have no strong thought other than Fayeq is an overlay at 30-t0-1. I’m resisting getting married to him (or anyone) until after I run my ALLWAYS software and see Predidcteform and OptixEQ data, but this will be a fun race to watch and play.
Brisnet – DeRosa – Live Blogging the Travers Stakes day Past Performances Release
Sal says that Sal’s surmising that Charles E. Fipke’s GI P4 ticket will look like:
Race 8: 3 – Tale of Silence
Race 9: 8 – Tale of S’Avail that may be Tale of No Avail trying to close ground in a sprint that is absolutely paceless except for Defrong.
Race 10: All button and hope for the longest of the long.
Race 11: 6 – Girvin
Satchel Paige
Horse Race Insider – Jicha – Edge to the ‘now’ horses over the ‘then’ horses in the Travers
America’s Best Racing – Starr – Classic Winners, New Faces Make Travers a Fascinating Puzzle
5. Who wins the Travers and why?
Joe’s answer: Chances are the track will be sizzling fast on Travers Day, and much like the Jim Dandy, it appears Always Dreaming will have a chance to set a comfortable pace. If he’s the horse we saw in Florida and Kentucky, anywhere close to the 6-1 morning line price would be a gift, but that’s a big IF.
Way back in March when I asked Bob Baffert which horse in his barn had a chance to be the Arrogate of 2017, West Coast was his answer without hesitation. He enters the toughest assignment of his career off three straight wins and does things the right way.
I’ve already expressed my recent crush on Irap, and stamina shouldn’t be an issue for Tapwrit and Good Samaritan, who will do their running late.
McCraken may have moved a little too soon in the Haskell. He wants to run at a target, not be one. That being said, I’m not sure 1 ¼ miles is what he wants to do. I believe he can be an explosive miler and would be my future book favorite for the 2018 Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont Park.
Joe’s Travers Stakes picks: 1) Always Dreaming 2) Irap 3) West Coast 4) McCraken
America’s best Racing – Kristufek – Five Questions to be Answered in the Travers Stakes
America’s Best Racing – 2017 Travers Stakes by the Numbers
Paulick Report – Northlands Park: Court System Likely To Determine Winner Of Canadian Derby
Edmonton Sun – Stock – Decision on appeal of Canadian Derby result could take months
Sal says to check out HBPA Alberta’s Facebook page:
TSN – Lewenberg – Both sides of the Kyrie Irving deal
NY Times – DePaolo – Is McGregor Safe Fighting Mayweather? Ringside Physicians Say No
LA Times – Hernandez – Mayweather-McGregor isn’t just a mismatch; it might be dangerous
The Globe and Mail – Kelly: Mayweather-McGregor marks the beginning of UFC’s decline
Bloodhorse – NYRA, FOX Sports Extend TV Deal Three Years
TDN – RMTC Statement on Court Decision
Bloodhorse – Wincze Hughes – Lady Eli Bids Farewell to Saratoga in Ballston Spa
ESPN – DRF – Grening – Lady Eli adds glitter to Ballston Spa Stakes field
ESPN – DRF – Dunleavy – Money Multiplier takes second shot at Sword Dancer Stakes
TDN – Frary – Nathaniel’s Enable Makes All In the Yorkshire Oaks
TDN – Thornton – Georgia On Their Mind–With or Without a Track
TDN – DeBernardis – Algorithms Filly a Family Affair for the Pletchers
TDN – Editorial, Half to Uncle Mo, Retired to Climax Stallions
giovedi 24 agosto
Sal says that he was performing some early handicapping for the Travers Stake on Saturday and there was not a single horse that made Sal stand up and say I’m a Believer.
Sal says that he can’t see the post time favourite being any less than 5 – 1 which along with the other contentious fields in the GI P4 makes for tough handicapping and a decent reward.
2017 Travers Stake PPs
Leave it to one of the most maligned groups of runners this year to be one of the most sporting in their actions. Over and over the 3-year-old dirt males have shown up to face one another on every meaningful stage and, while some have criticized their penchant for sharing the wealth, they have nonetheless succeeded in creating a depth-laden division full of accomplished members.
Bloodhorse – Wincze Hughes – Contentious Travers Stakes on Tap
Race 11: The big one, and I have no strong thought other than Fayeq is an overlay at 30-t0-1. I’m resisting getting married to him (or anyone) until after I run my ALLWAYS software and see Predidcteform and OptixEQ data, but this will be a fun race to watch and play.
Brisnet – DeRosa – Live Blogging the Travers Stakes day Past Performances Release
THE HORSEMEN’S BENEVOLENT AND PROTECTIVE ASSOCIATION OF ALBERTA
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
THURSDAY, AUGUST 24, 2017 – 5:30 P.M.
NORTHLANDS PARK – EDMONTON, ALBERTA
SKY PADDOCK
The following matters of business will be brought before the meeting:
¨ Consider the Financial Statements of the Association for the Year ended December 31, 2016 and the Accountant’s Report thereon. Copies of the Statements will be available at the meeting;
¨ Appoint the Chartered Accountant for the year ended December 31, 2017;
¨ Receive the Report of the Directors to the members;
¨ Transact any other business as may lawfully come before the meeting.
ORIGINAL SIGNED BY:
Darrell Bauder
Executive Director
July 31, 2017
MEMBERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND
Sandwiches & non alcoholic beverages will be served
Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.
Dr Seuss
Sal was wandering if ATOBA will be making a presentation to the Alberta HPBA members about what ATOBA’s plans are for 2017 and 2018.
Paulick Report – Lamoureaux – ‘Holy Cow!’ The Improbable Tale of 1994 Travers Winner Holy Bull
TDN – Fayeq Hopes to Follow in His Sister’s Hoofprints
This is Horse racing – Joe Clancy – An Irish Trip
TwinSpires Blog – Hanson – Breeders’ Cup Galore on Saratoga Super Saturday
TDN – Martini – Ryan Ready for a Super Saturday
Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.
Voltaire
LA Times – Barabak – Again breaking ground, Trump takes the permanent campaign to new heights
The Globe and Mail – Globe editorial: Why a weakened Trump is replaying his greatest hits
Sal says for the same reason that the fans still cheer for I Can’t Get No Satisfaction from the Stones that are only rolling out of the kidneys and Gall Bladders these days.
You can’t build a reputation on what you are going to do.
Henry Ford
TDN – Keeneland Unveils Enhanced Book 1 Digital Catalog
Sal says that Sal may not have the resources that Keeneland does but for any breeder who wants his yearlings on the web Sal will Post.
Sal’s Early 2017 CTHS Alberta Sales Preview
The two men first collaborated in September 2011 when they were brought on as the veterinarian and racing manager, respectively, for eventual GI Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Mucho Macho Man (Macho Uno).
TDN – Rhein & Green Launch Empire Thoroughbreds
Two Mucho Macho Man yearlings available at 2017 CTHS Alberta Sale
Hip 25
Hip 76
Bloodhorse – Kieckhefer – Ulysses Handles Youngsters in Juddmonte International
Shakespeare is the happy hunting ground of all minds that have lost their balance.
James Joyce
TDN – Frary – Frankel’s Cracksman Imperious In the Great Voltigeur
Thoroughbred Racing Commentary – Smith – Frankel breaks into the world top ten
TDN – Anderson – First Winner for Frankel in South Africa
If there is any one secret of success, it lies in the ability to get the other person’s point of view and see things from that person’s angle as well as from your own.
Henry Ford
Southern Living – Teague – Meet the Legendary Cake Ladies of Andalusia, Alabama
Paulick Report – Denman Named To Southern California Sports Broadcasters Hall Of Fame
Bloodhorse – Angst – Practical Joke Cuts Back for H. Allen Jerkens Stakes
LA Times – Hernandez – Fans will be the losers, again, of Floyd Mayweather’s latest extravaganza
The Undefeated – McDonald and O’Neal – Why Floyd Mayweather can still box after beating women
The Globe and Mail – Kelly: Floyd Mayweather is ready to complete his family’s legacy
Sal says that Kelly’s correct if the Mayweather legacy is beating up women and running away from fighters in the ring.
Sal says that Cathal Kelly is an embarrassment to the Canadian press seen and one of the reasons that Canadian turn to the times and ESPN rather than Canadian media.
Bloodhorse – Shea – Drefong Aims for Bing Crosby Rebound in Forego
Bloodhorse – Eric Mitchell – Strong European Duo Head Sword Dancer Field
To do more for the world than the world does for you – that is success.
Henry Ford
Bloodhorse – Balan – Songbird Set to Regain Form in Personal Ensign
TDN – Martini – Inside the Winner’s Circle: Collected
TDN – Snierson – Michele Boyce Defies Diabetes Amid Career Year
Paulick Report – Paulassilverlining, By The Moon Set For Rematch In G1 Ballerina
Paulick Report – Cupid Returns A Winner In The Harry F. Brubaker Stakes
mercoledi 23 agosto
Boston Globe – Washburn – Celtics made instant upgrade in speedy blockbuster for Kyrie Irving
ESPN – Forsberg – Celtics roster turnover continues with Kyrie Irving trade
NY Times – Cacciola – Cavs Trade Kyrie Irving to Celtics for Isaiah Thomas
TDN – Bill Finley – Motion Win in Kentucky Courts Could Affect Absolute Insurer Rule
Brisnet – Scully – Travers Day excitement building
Paulick Report – Songbird Headlines Quartet Of Breeders’ Cup Challenge Races On Travers Undercard
LA Times – Mayweather-McGregor: Countdown to the Aug. 26 fight in Las Vegas
Bloodhorse – Tapwrit Favored on Travers Morning Line
TDN – Classic Winners Draw One, Four, Seven in Travers Dozen
TDN – DeBernardis – Young Primed for Another Big Saturday
Bloodhorse – Roots – Roots – Massive Australian Interest in American Pharoah
Bloodhorse – Ron Mitchell – Going Commando Fillies Top CTHS Manitoba Yearling Sale
Horse Race Insider – Pricci – Saratoga Wishes and Championship Dreams
Sal says if you’re tired of all this Donald Trump fuddle duddle twitter twatter take a mind emptying break into celebrity gossip:
TMZ – Lindsey Vonn Nude Photo Hack ‘Despicable Invasion of Privacy’
The Hollywood Gossip – Johnson – Ben Affleck: Drinking Again, Worrying Family & Friends (Report)
National Enquirer – Taylor – Elvis & Cher: Their Doomed Hollywood Romance
Bloodhorse – Brown Confirms Cloud Computing to Start in Travers
TDN – Bossinakis – Good Travers Work for ‘Samaritan’
TDN – Carasso – Irap, Fit Physically (And Mentally), Ready for Travers Throwdown
Sal says that a boycott may sound like a good idea, but what really needs to be done is a complete overhaul of the thoroughbred wagering system.
TDN – Additional Equine Safety Measures Implemented at Saratoga
NY Times – Egan – Can You Develop Food Allergies at Any Age?
I will not eat them in a house, I will not eat them with a mouse, I will not eat them in a box, I will not eat them with a fox, I will not eat them here or there, I will not eat them anywhere, I do not like green eggs and ham, I do not like them Sam I am.
Dr. Seuss
The Globe and Mail – Hager – Atlantic salmon turn up in B.C. waters after escaping fish farm
TDN – Letter to the Editor – Letter to the Editor: Paul Berube
The real discussion needs to be on what I call the “true takeout” – the takeout percentage less the applicable rebate – and its relative impact on purses, liquidity of wagering pools and the overall health of the pari-mutuel markets. Coordinated post times or better race scheduling is something like those cocktail hot dogs they pass around at a party. The true takeout is the beef.
TDN – Letter To The Editor – Letter to the Editor: Bill Nader
NY Times – Miller – An Architect and an Artist Walk Into a Barn
Two Mucho Macho Man yearlings available at 2017 CTHS Alberta Sale
Hip 25
Hip 76
Southern Living – Taste Test: The Best Mayonnaise
TDN – Bill Finley – Arrogate: Good is not Good Enough
Brisnet – Hanson – Arrogate threatened to be eclipsed in Eclipse voting
Paulick Report – Remembering Calgary Cat: Fan-Favorite, Champion ‘Was Like Family’
The Bitter Southerner – Siegel – The Black Belt in Color
NY Times Landler and Haberman – At Rally, Trump Blames Media for Country’s Deepening Divisions
NY Times – Burns and Martin – McConnell, in Private, Doubts if Trump Can Save Presidency
Sal says that if Donald wants to be honest for once if his life he should start selling hats that say: “Let’s make Donald Popular for Once.”
Hawthorne Sal
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