Blog Master G

The lineup for Saturday’s $1 million Travers Stakes, the biggest race of the year here in Saratoga — known as the Midsummmer Derby, as in the summer version of the Kentucky Derby — has been announced. Here are the horses and their positions. It seems the #3 horse has been named after me:

1. Hesanoldsalt (15-1)
2. Minister’s Bid (8-1)
3. Dr. Pleasure (12-1)
4. High Cotton (6-1)
5. Bernardini (1-1)
6. Kip Deville (30–1)
7. Bluegrass Cat (2-1)

Preakness and Jim Dandy winner Bernardini is the strong favorite with Bluegrass Cat close behind. But alas, Saratoga Race Course is the Graveyard of Champions, so I’d be surprised if Bernardini can pull it off again (even though the Jim Dandy is a Saratoga race; we actually saw him win that earlier this season).

My early pick: 7-3-5. (How could I not pull for a horse named after me?) I’ll no doubt throw down some additional bets. Maybe the 5 with 7 and 3. Or the 7 with 2 and 4.

The anticipation for Saturday builds. I can feel it in the crisp and cool morning air.

Technorati: Horse Racing.