Who Won the Travers Draw?
- Laura Pugh
- Aug 24, 2016
- 5 min read
Photo Credit Averie Levanti
Then entries have been drawn, and now the field is set for the 2016 running of the Travers Stakes (I)
Heading the field is Preakness Stakes (GI) and Haskell (GI) winning Exaggerator, who will be bidding to prove that he is just as effective over a fast surface as he is in the muck. Other big contenders, Gun Runner, Creator, and Destin will be out to prove their mediocre performance in their last outings were simply flukes, while on the flip side of the coin, Laoban will out to prove his Jim Dandy was anything but a fluke.
In a field this closely matched post position could mean the difference between a win and a loss. Some will be aided by their post positions, while some will be hindered making the draw ever so important. With that in mind, let’s take a look at who won the draw.
1.) Arrogate: The lightly raced son of Unbridled’s Song did not find himself in a lucky spot. He has flashed an abundance of speed in most of his victories, and with plenty of speed to his outside, he will be force to send from the innermost post. To be forced to run so hard early, while making such a drastic class jump is not normally a mix that winds up producing a win.
2.) American Freedom: If trainer thought his luck was bad after Arrogate drew the rail, he must have thought it hit the gutter when American Freedom drew this post. Another horse that is all about speed, and will now need to send almost equally as hard as Arrogate to avoid traffic troubles. With this set-up, it is entirely possible that Baffert’s two entries may duel themselves into submission trying to avoid the crush of traffic that will come upon them from the outside.
3.) My Man Sam: The Chad Brown trainee shouldn’t be affected by his position too much. As a closer, the only thing his jockey will need to be careful of is to avoid getting caught in too much traffic. If he can My Man Sam in the clear then, outside of being caught a bit wide, My Man Sam should be able to deliver his closing kick.
4.) Governor Malibu: This one likes to sit just off the pacesetters, which means he will need a clean break to gain the position he is most comfortable in. However, if the jockey is too patient he could end up getting into traffic troubles like he did in the Belmont Stakes (GI). If he is too aggressive then he could wind up being too close to a hot pace, neutralizing his closing kick.
5.) Forever D’Oro: As a deep closer no post would really affect his game plan, however he has tried this kind of company before and failed miserably in that attempt. It would be a huge shock for him to get up and win the Travers.
6.) Anaximandros: This son of Hard Spun likes to sit just off the stalkers, typically in upper-mid pack. The position is outwards enough to allow him to obtain the best position for his style, while exerting minimal effort. However, he hasn’t shown himself to be on the same levels as the best in this race.
7.) Exaggerator: The three time grade one winning son of Curlin couldn’t have drawn a better post position. With the pace shaping up to be relatively quick, he should be able to take back without having to worry about getting stuck in traffic, before pouncing on his competition. The only thing question many have for him is if he can deliver that same winning kick over a dry surface. If so, the rest of his competition is running for second.
8.) Destin: Like Exaggerator, the Todd Pletcher trainee couldn’t have drawn a better slot. He has the speed to stay close to the pace setters, but is far enough removed that he won’t get caught up in any possible duels. He should be sitting in the catbird’s seat once the leaders begin to grow leg weary. If he can prove good enough to make the lead he will prove difficult to run down.
9.) Gift Box: The Twirling Candy ridgling has never finished worse than third in his career, but will find himself up against it, in his second start off of a very lengthy layoff. He typically likes to sit a few off of the pace, but from this position he is likely to get caught wide. Running a wide trip, while attempting 10 furlongs for the first time, is not the most successful of mixes.
10.) Connect- The other half of the Chad Brown one, two punch. Connect, being by Curlin out of a Holy Bull mare should have no issue with the distance. The problem is this colt likes to be on or near the lead, meaning he will have to be used from this wide post to obtain the position he is most comfortable in.
11.) Majesto: Another deep closer who will not feel the effects of his post position. He brings his game every single start, and if all other favorites fail, he will stand a very good chance of upsetting the field.
12.) Creator: Post position will make no difference to this son of Tapit. He will drop to the back of the pack early, and let the leaders self-destruct before trying to pick up the pieces in the stretch. He is coming off a poor performance in the Jim Dandy, which raises questions on his affinity for the track. If those questions are false, and he runs back to his Belmont and Arkansas Derby (GI) scores, he’ll definitely be dangerous.
13.) Laoban: The horse who broke his maiden in the grade two Jim Dandy will want to be on or close to the lead. Unfortunately, he won’t be likely to make the lead, and could get caught wide trying to get it. He will not get the same perfect set-up that he was gifted in the Jim Dandy, and without it he is likely a wrung or two below the best horses in this race.
14.) Gun Runner: The talented son of Candy Ride has broken from the one post a couple of times before, but never has he broken from 14. He likes to stay close to the pace without actually setting it. Being that there are plenty of other runners who share his style he will most likely find himself widest of all going into the first turn. That is not a position you want to be in when you are trying to win one of the most prestigious 10-furlong grade ones.
Assessment: The biggest losers are the Bob Baffert duo. Being pinned on the rail will force them to send and most likely enter a duel causing them to self-destruct. Gift Box, Connect, Laoban, and Gun Runner didn’t fare much better. They will have to scramble from their outside gates to gain good position, otherwise they will get caught wide.
The winners of the draw, by a mile, were Exaggerator and Destin. Both have posts that are perfect for their styles and will likely be able to achieve their favorite positions expanding little to no extra energy.
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