After several days of looking back on the Triple Crown, it feels like it's time to look ahead. the Saratoga meet starts in 6 weeks and the meet's biggest race, the Travers Stakes, could be a big one.
Consider the likely starters: Street Sense (BC Juvenile winner, 2YO champion colt, winner of the Kentucky Derby), Curlin (third in Derby, winner of the Preakness Stakes, second in the Belmont Stakes and a winner in four of his six career races), Rags to Riches (racing's leading lady, winner of the Belmont, winner of four straight Grade I races), Hard Spun (winless in the T.C. series, but second in the Derby and third in the Preakness and a two-time graded stakes winner). Also, remember some of these names? Nobiz Like Shobiz, Scat Daddy, Circular Quay, C.P. West and Sightseeing. Plus, there's bound to be another horse or two that comes into play in late July.
What does all this mean? Even if Rags to Riches goes in the Alabama and not the Travers (that is my gut feeling right now, by the way), the Travers has the potential to be a blockbuster. The grudge match everyone wanted to see in the Belmont between Street Sense and Curlin could happen. Hard Spun could try once again to knock off his top rivals for that major Grade I win. In addition, one of the "other" horses that enter could call on Saratoga's name - "graveyard of favorites" - and post a shocking upset.
Rags to Riches staying with the girls would add a ton of juice to Alabama day and Invasor will hopefully be back on track to defend his Whitney Handicap title. Plus, Todd Pletcher will have a new army of 2-year-olds primed and ready to go in the Spa's fantastic juvenile races.
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