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TRAVERS S. (G1), 11TH-SAR, $1,000,000, 3YO, 1 1/4M, 5:45 P.M. EDT, 8-23

PP HORSE TRAINER JOCKEY WT
1 TALE OF EKATI TAGG BARCLAY PRADO E S 126
2 COLONEL JOHN HARTY EOIN GOMEZ G K 126
3 DA' TARA ZITO NICHOLAS P GARCIA A 126
4 TIZBIG JERKENS H ALLEN VELASQUEZ CORNE 126
5 MACHO AGAIN STEWART DALLAS LEPAROUX JULIEN 126
6 COOL COAL MAN ZITO NICHOLAS P VELAZQUEZ J R 126
7 AMPED ZITO NICHOLAS P CHAVEZ J F 126
8 HARLEM ROCKER PLETCHER TODD A COA E M 126
9 MAMBO IN SEATTLE HOWARD NEIL J ALBARADO R J 126
10 TRES BORRACHOS GREELY C BEAU BAZE T C 126
11 PYRO ASMUSSEN STEVEN M BRIDGMOHAN S X 126
12 COURT VISION MOTT WILLIAM I DESORMEAUX K J 126

The centerpiece of the Saratoga meet will take place on Saturday, when a superb cast of 12 three-year-olds will contest the prestigious, $1 million Travers S. (G1). In this particular year, this is undoubtedly the top race for sophomores -- even with the one glaring omission of Big Brown (Boundary). We could go any of a number of different ways in here, and we think that nearly every horse in the race can conceivably finish in the top four, but our pick will be the talented HARLEM ROCKER (Macho Uno) for Stronach Stables. Trained by Todd Pletcher, the smart three-year-old has never lost on a dirt track and exits a complete win in the Prince of Wales S., where he was drawing away late after being challenged in midstretch. The gray Canadian-bred has posted four consecutive solid drills over this main oval in preparation for this, he's well drawn in post 8, and his running style suggests that he should be within striking distance of the leader at every call. Eibar Coa keeps the mount atop the budding star.

We have a strong feeling that COLONEL JOHN (Tiznow) is sitting on a big one for Eoin Harty, and we'll tab the Grade 1 winner to complete the exacta under Garrett Gomez. The bay colt has done all of his damage on the West Coast, bagging wins in the Santa Anita Derby (G1), Sham S. (G3) and Real Quiet S., and we can't hold his sixth-place effort in the Kentucky Derby (G1) in his dirt debut against him too much. The highly regarded Kentucky-bred will be somewhat dependent on the early pace and he's more of a one-run closer than anything, but the inside draw and the presence of Gomez should keep him in range when the real running begins.

COOL COAL MAN (Mineshaft) has the right running style to be a big danger in this race for Nick Zito, and we rate this one with the best chance of getting a big chunk of the purse with his top effort. A winner in the Fountain of Youth S. (G2) in the spring, the well-bred bay captured the Spend a Buck S. two back and finished a respectable third behind dual classic winner Big Brown in the Haskell Invitational (G1) in his latest test, which should set him up for a big run on this day. Expect to see the colt in the first flight early prior to making his move under John Velazquez approaching the final turn.

Preakness S. (G1) runner-up MACHO AGAIN (Macho Uno) showed a nice late burst to take the Jim Dandy S. (G2) in his local prep for this, and the Dallas Stewart trainee looks as good as any in this field. A winner of the Derby Trial S. over the talented Kodiak Kowboy (Posse) earlier in the year, the gray is a steady performer who could be reaching his prime. The late energy the colt showed in the Jim Dandy gives us confidence that he can endure 10 furlongs over this surface, and we love Julien Leparoux in this spot.

Morning-line favorite PYRO (Pulpit) closed big in the Jim Dandy and seems to be perfectly positioned for a big effort in this deep race for conditioner Steve Asmussen. The brilliant colt, who was the leading Kentucky Derby contender for much of the early spring, has finished unplaced on the dirt just once in his career and has trained well leading up to this event. The dark bay hasn't been as visually impressive as of late as he was earlier in his career, but the quality is still there and he would be a deserving winner of such a storied event. The Kentucky-bred would love a fast pace at which to run.

MAMBO IN SEATTLE (Kingmambo) is a rapidly improving late runner who looks like a logical threat at this distance at this stage of his career. The Neil Howard pupil has never been worse than second on the dirt and boasts BRIS Late Pace numbers of 117, 110 and 102 in his last three. A prep stakes win at the Spa and an additional furlong to work with bode well for the blue-blooded bay. Robby Albarado retains the mount.

Grade 2 star COURT VISION (Gulch) ran the race of his life when just missing in the Virginia Derby (G2) on the grass most recently for Bill Mott, but we're not sure if we can expect the same acceleration on the main oval from the well-bred colt. The Kentucky-bred also has another problem, as he drew widest of all in here and might have to compromise himself early in order to get into position for the stretch run. We think the Remsen S. (G2) victor is far from a throw-out, as it's possible he's finally put it all together, but he'd be hard to swallow at anything less than 20-1.

Belmont S. (G1) upsetter DA' TARA (Tiznow) was fried by the wicked early pace in the Jim Dandy and was wisely never asked late by Alan Garcia in a last-place showing. The likely early leader has a steady one-paced style that is best suited to lengthy events, and he could be a stubborn rival if he carves out pedestrian early fractions. We'd suggest using the Zito colt in case he's feeling good on this day, but he could just as easily finish in the second half of the field. All or nothing!

Wood Memorial S. (G1) star TALE OF EKATI (Tale of the Cat) has finished unplaced in three straight since recording his signature win for Barclay Tagg, and it's hard to recommend the strapping bay off his current form. A distant fourth in the Derby, the Kentucky-bred was nowhere to be found in the Belmont and finished a lackluster fourth in the Jim Dandy leading up to this. We like the rail draw and the presence of Edgar Prado, but we can't see him getting more than a minor award against these.

We really like TRES BORRACHOS (Ecton Park) on the synthetic oval but question his chances on the dirt against a field this deep for Beau Greely. The smart gelding has a lot of weapons at his disposal -- excellent gate speed, a steady stride and tons of stamina -- and his being in the mix early should only enhance his chances in the stretch. The bay has never shown a burst in his prior races, and it seems almost impossible for him to defeat all 11 of his foes with his grinding style from the 10 post.

TIZBIG (Tiznow) has already put in a pair of nine-furlong runs at this meet and will enter this off a six-day break for Allen Jerkens. We can't doubt the bay's fitness and we like his improving nature, including his clear second in the Dwyer S. (G2) three back, so we'll toss him in some gimmicks at boxcar odds. AMPED (Fusaichi Pegasus), the third choice of the Zito trio, has no early speed and has yet to top the century mark in his BRIS Speed figures. The bay is tough to back.

1st-HARLEM ROCKER
2nd-COLONEL JOHN
3rd-COOL COAL MAN

KING'S BISHOP S.na D WAYNE VELASQUEZ CORNE 117
4 VISIONAIRE MATZ MICHAEL R GARCIA A 119
5 SILVER EDITION LUKAS D WAYNE LEPAROUX JULIEN 117
6 KODIAK KOWBOY JONES J LARRY SAEZ GABRIEL 121
7 GOLDEN SPIKES WOLFSON MARTIN D TRUJILLO E 121
8 J BE K ASMUSSEN STEVEN M GOMEZ G K 121
9 SALUTE THE SARGE GUILLOT ERIC DESORMEAUX K J 121
10 I'M SO LUCKY WARD JOHN T JR ALBARADO R J 117
11 LANTANA MOB TROMBETTA MICHAEL J DOMINGUEZ R A 119

The top race for sophomore sprinters will take place on Saturday at Saratoga in the form of the $250,000 King's Bishop S.na pupil is extremely consistent sprinting on dirt, however, and could sneak into a placing under the perfect conditions.na pupil, NAUTICAL STORM (Storm Cat), who would have to be a freak of nature to win this off a maiden score.

I'M SO LUCKY (Langfuhr) has done little wrong in his last trio, racking up wins in each by a combined 15 1/2 lengths, including a dominant allowance win over this track last out. The late-blooming John Ward sophomore has been visually impressive in each of his last three and appears to have a very bright future. We don't pick this horse to finish last but we have no idea what to do with the chestnut at a good price.

1st-KODIAK KOWBOY
2nd-DESERT KEY
3rd-J BE K

BERNARD BARUCH H. (G2), 9TH-SAR, $200,000, 3YO/UP, 1 1/8MT, 4:38 P.M. EDT, 8-23

PP HORSE TRAINER JOCKEY WT
1 DRUM MAJOR WEAVER GEORGE VELASQUEZ CORNE 115
2 THORN SONG ROMANS DALE LEPAROUX JULIEN 118
3 OPERATION RED DAWN CLEMENT CHRISTOPHE DOMINGUEZ R A 114
4 ELUSIVE FORT (SAF) MALEK RAJA COA E M 114
5 DISTORTED REALITY PLETCHER TODD A VELAZQUEZ J R 115
6 SHAKIS (IRE) MCLAUGHLIN KIARAN P GARCIA A 115
7 PROUDINSKY (GER) FRANKEL ROBERT J PRADO E S 118
8 SENSATIONAL HUMOR BUSH THOMAS M MARAGH RAJIV 113
9 YATE'S BLACK CAT ROMANS DALE ALBARADO R J 115
10 WAR MONGER MOTT WILLIAM I DESORMEAUX K J 115

A well-matched field of 10 will go postward in the $200,000 Bernard Baruch H. (G2) at Saratoga on Saturday. The Bobby Frankel-trained PROUDINSKY (Ger) (Silvano [Ger]) comes off a stinker in the Manhattan H. (G1) in June, but his previous form was so good that we're willing to give the talented five-year-old a pass for that and tab him in here. The bay began his good form run with a closing third in the Citation H. (G1), followed by a close second in the San Gabriel H. (G2), and capped by a smart score in the Mervin H. Muniz Jr. Memorial H. (G2) at Fair Grounds in March. The closer ranks 1st in BRIS Prime Power (163.3) and will be reacquainted with pilot Edgar Prado.

THORN SONG (Unbridled's Song) captured the Firecracker H. (G2) two prior and finished a respectable third in the Fourstardave H. (G2) in advance of this for trainer Dale Romans. The gray five-year-old has a lot of things in his corner -- his natural early speed in a race devoid of it, his local mark (3-2-0-1), and his ability to run well over firm ground or turf with give in it. The likely favorite will be the one to catch turning for home.

OPERATION RED DAWN (Miswaki) has won or placed in 15 of 17 career outings, all on the green, and comes in off a decent third in the Poker H. (G3) last month for turf dynamo Christophe Clement. The gelded six-year-old has placed in three of his last four graded tries and seems more than capable of doing the same in this bunch. We'd like the dark bay more if a hot pace were expected.

DISTORTED REALITY (Distorted Humor) didn't have the smoothest of trips when a close fourth last out in the Fourstardave, and the Todd Pletcher trainee is yet another exotics contender in this field. The consistent chestnut topped a solid group in the Academy Award S. two back, including Sword Dancer Invitational S. (G1) hero Grand Couturier (GB) (Grand Lodge), and his 2008 form looks as good or better than that of his sophomore season, so we'll use this one in our plays under John Velazquez.

Defending champion SHAKIS (Ire) (Machiavellian) is the wildcard in this field for us, as the Kiaran McLaughlin trainee has the back class to challenge for the win, but his recent form is awful. The eight-year-old was no factor in the Manhattan, Dixie S. (G2) or Maker's Mark Mile S. (G1) in his three 2008 tries, and while this field can't compare to those, it's still difficult to make a case for the Shadwell colorbearer in here.

A closing third to Shakis in this race in 2007, DRUM MAJOR (Dynaformer) has not raced since and will attempt to topple this bunch off the lengthy layoff for George Weaver. In looking back at the six-year-old's form, it appears that he fares better in his second off the bench and the rail draw could compromise his chances on this day.

We've anticipated WAR MONGER (War Chant) being much better than he has been of late following his fine fall/winter campaign, but the Bill Mott charge continues to disappoint us. The occasionally brilliant Florida-bred could pop a big one with the right trip over a firm turf course, but the widest post of all and the possibility of moisture on the lawn don't bode well for his chances. YATE'S BLACK CAT (Black Minnaloushe) earned a career-topping 99 BRIS Speed number while second at Arlington last out, but the five-year-old has yet to prove that he belongs with this company and we'll let him beat us from post 9.

SENSATIONAL HUMOR (Distorted Humor) is an honest performer for New York-based conditioner Tom Bush, but he's a cut below the best in here and Bush is just 4 percent at the current meeting. ELUSIVE FORT (SAf) (Fort Wood) has yet to duplicate his South African form, so the dark bay still appears to be a cut below this cast.

1st-PROUDINSKY (Ger)
2nd-THORN SONG
3rd-OPERATION RED DAWN

VICTORY RIDE S. (G3), 8TH-SAR, $100,000, 3YO, F, 6F, 4:03 P.M. EDT, 8-23

PP HORSE TRAINER JOCKEY WT
1 PALANKA CITY TAGG BARCLAY COA E M 123
2 THROBBIN' HEART ASMUSSEN STEVEN M BRIDGMOHAN S X 120
3 MORE HAPPY BAFFERT BOB VELASQUEZ CORNE 120
4 INFORMED DECISION SHEPPARD JONATHAN E VELAZQUEZ J R 118
5 INDYANNE GILCHRIST GREG BAZE R A 123
6 PORTE BONHEUR DUGGAN DAVID P DOMINGUEZ R A 120
7 SLY STORM PROCTOR THOMAS F CASTELLANO J J 120
8 J Z WARRIOR MOTT WILLIAM I DESORMEAUX K J 120

The brilliant INDYANNE (Indian Charlie) leads a talented cast in the $100,000 Victory Ride S. (G3) at Saratoga on Saturday, and we feel that the unbeaten speedster will keep her unblemished mark intact following this one. Conditioned by Greg Gilchrist, the California-based filly has been superb since the word go and has yet to be challenged from four career tries, winning by a combined 32 1/2 lengths. The gray is proven over multiple surfaces and proved she can take her show on the road with a dominant score in the Azalea S. (G3) last out. Russell Baze retains the mount.

The talented INFORMED DECISION (Monarchos) was last seen on the Polytrack at Keeneland, when the sophomore dusted her rivals by 6 1/4 lengths. The Jonathan Sheppard pupil has ability and should endure a good trip from off the pace, which should set up her late run beneath John Velazquez. The expensive gray has worked in fine fashion in advance of this and could offer excellent value to the gimmicks.

PALANKA CITY (Carson City) is a fine sprinter drawn on the rail here in her second try for Barclay Tagg. The chestnut miss has a ton of ability and can run from on or off the early tempo, so her chances at a top-three finish seem good. Eibar Coa will have the call aboard the Grade 3 heroine.

We've liked the steady progression of the royally bred SLY STORM (Storm Cat) and we'll tab the smart bay for an exotics chance in this event. Conditioned by high-percentage horseman Tom Proctor, the bay lass has won two races in succession including the Mongo Queen S., and her best may be ahead of her. The Kentucky-bred hasn't faced a field of this nature in her career, but she is far from rank early and should get first run on the closers turning for home.

PORTE BONHEUR (Hennessy) rallied well from off the pace to upset the Flanders S. over this oval last out, and the improving chestnut has a chance at a top-three placing with her best for David Duggan. The Kentucky-bred earned a lifetime best 99 BRIS Speed number in her latest effort, which puts her squarely in the exotics picture under Ramon Dominguez.

MORE HAPPY (Vindication) needed her last when fourth in the Flanders and is capable of better for Bob Baffert. The dark bay miss has brilliant early speed and will likely lead this field for the opening quarter-mile, but we have little faith that the Grade 2 queen can withstand the early pressure she is expected to face in here. J Z WARRIOR (Harlan's Holiday), winner of the Dearly Precious S. two prior, has never fared well with graded company and seems to be up against it from her outside draw. The Bill Mott charge had no chance in the Test S. (G1) last out and is facing a similar cast, so we must look elsewhere even though the bay has been working brilliantly. THROBBIN HEART (Smoke Glacken) has been beaten by more than 51 lengths in her two graded tries, so it's hard to get excited about the Steve Asmussen trainee.

1st-INDYANNE
2nd-INFORMED DECISION
3rd-PALANKA CITY

DEL MAR H. (G2), 8TH-DMR, $250,000, 3YO/UP, 1 3/8MT, 5:30 P.M. PDT, 8-23

PP HORSE TRAINER JOCKEY WT
1 TRANSDUCTION GOLD GLENNEY JOHN COURT J K 116
2 CHURCH SERVICE MITCHELL MIKE BLANC B 117
3 HEROI DO BAFRA (BRZ) LOBO PAULO H GRYDER A T 115
4 AMERICAN IMPERIUM MANDELLA GARY TALAMO JOSEPH 113
5 YOU GOT ME ROCKING MITCHELL MIKE ROSARIO JOEL 112
6 RUNAWAY DANCER HENDRICKS DAN L SOLIS A 117
7 SPRING HOUSE CANANI JULIO C NAKATANI C S 118
8 TISSY FIT SADLER JOHN W BEJARANO R 113
9 MR.UNIVERSO (BRZ) LOBO PAULO H ESPINOZA V 114

SPRING HOUSE (Chester House), one of the more consistent turf marathoners in Southern California in recent years, stretches out in his second race back from a long layoff in Saturday's $250,000 Del Mar H. (G2). Set at 1 3/8 miles, the Del Mar should be right up the alley of the Julio Canani trainee who captured the 12-furlong San Luis Obispo H. (G2) in February and the Carleton F. Burke H. (G3) over the same trip last October.

Following his 2 1/4-length score in the San Luis Obispo, Spring House traveled to Nad Al Sheba for the Dubai Sheema Classic (UAE-G1), but in finishing 10th found the competition too difficult. Rested until the July 20 Eddie Read H. (G1) going nine furlongs, Spring House turned in a solid effort to finish fourth, 1 1/2 lengths behind several sharp rivals at a distance shorter than he prefers. He's turned in four excellent works since that start and is hard to go against with a return to his usual form.

CHURCH SERVICE (Pulpit), runner-up in the San Luis Obispo at 20-1, might be overlooked in the wagering following a fifth-place finish in the Sunset H. (G2) last time. Winner of the Dallas Turf Cup (G3) two back, Church Service lost ground between the first and second calls in the Sunset and simply failed to fire his best shot in a 3 1/2-length defeat. He should offer value in the exotics.

RUNAWAY DANCER (Runaway Groom), the nine-year-old veteran who narrowly missed in this race last year, concedes racing fitness having not started since the Carleton F. Burke in October. While he has traded decisions with Spring House in their last four meetings, we feel the latter is in a better position to prevail in this rubber match.

HEROI DO BAFRA's (Brz) (Royal Academy) worst effort in 2007-08 occurred in the 1 1/2-mile Hollywood Turf Cup (G1) in his only start beyond 10 furlongs, but that effort seems an aberration given he's finished fourth or better every other time during that span. Grade 3 winner TRANSDUCTION GOLD (Formal Gold) lacked a sufficient late kick when fourth in the Sunset last time, but finished a decent second in the Round Table H. and Louisville H. (G3) in his two previous starts. Rarely among the betting choices, he should provide value in most exotics plans. Brazilian star MR.UNIVERSO (Brz) (Roi Normand) was a close fourth in his American debut going 1 1/16 miles last month and might appreciate the longer trip of this race.

The rest of the field is questionable from a class perspective. TISSY FIT (Lasting Approval) has found moderate success on synthetic surfaces of late, while likely pacesetters AMERICAN IMPERIUM (Siphon [Brz]) and YOU GOT ME ROCKING (Aljabr) are allowance quality runners.

1st-SPRING HOUSE
2nd-CHURCH SERVICE
3rd-RUNAWAY DANCER