August, 2022 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Runhappy Travers Day Generates Record Handle

Saturday's blockbuster 13-race Runhappy Travers Day card, highlighted by Epicenter's victory in the 153rd running of the $1.25 million Runhappy Travers (G1), generated record-setting all-sources wagering handle of $55,559,315

The 2022 figure eclipses the prior Runhappy Travers Day record of $52,129,346 in wagering from all-sources, which was established in 2019.

Paid attendance on Saturday was 49,672, which is the highest on a Runhappy Travers Day since 2015 when Triple Crown winner American Pharoah ran at Saratoga Race Course. Paid attendance in 2021 was 44,507.

On-track handle was $10,373,124, or 10.3% higher than 2021 when on-track handle was $9,406,526.

The Runhappy Travers was the centerpiece of a card featuring five Grade 1s among six stakes in total including the Grade 1, $750,000 Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer offering a “Win and You're In” berth to the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Turf; the Grade 1, $600,000 Personal Ensign; the Grade 1, $600,000 Forego, the Grade 1, $500,000 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial and the Grade 2, $400,000 Ballston Spa.

For the fourth consecutive year, fans nationwide watched the Runhappy Travers action unfold on FOX as part of a special 90-minute telecast. Overall, the networks of FOX Sports broadcast 7 ½ hours of live racing action from Saratoga which included all six graded stakes on Runhappy Travers Day.

Saratoga's 2022 summer meet continues through Labor Day, Monday, September 5.

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Runhappy Travers Day Generates Record 2022 Handle

Saturday's 13-race Runhappy Travers Day card, highlighted by Epicenter (Not This Time)'s victory in the 153rd running of the $1.25 million GI Runhappy Travers, generated record setting all-sources wagering handle of $55,559,315 and had the highest paid attendance since 2015 at 49,672. The 2022 figure eclipses the prior Runhappy Travers Day record of $52,129,346 in wagering from all-sources, which was established in 2019. On-track handle was $10,373,124, or 10.3 percent higher than 2021, when on-track handle was $9,406,526.

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Lost Ark, Half Brother To Grade 1 Winner Nest, Perfect 2-For-2 With Sapling Score

Harrell Ventures LLC's Lost Ark, a half brother to multiple Grade 1-winning 3-year-old filly Nest, angled out from off the pace before powering home to an impressive 7 ½-length score Saturday in the $200,000 Sapling Stakes at Monmouth Park.

Trained by Todd Pletcher, Lost Ark was dispatched the even-money favorite in the field of eight 2-year-old colts.

After sitting off the speed of :23.94 for the quarter and :47.51 for the half, Lost Ark stormed home to stop the timer in 1:37.20 for the flat mile and returned $4.

Bourbon Spirit, who was among the early pacesetters, finished second. Major Dude checked in third, a head back.

“I did not want or expect him to be too far back,” said winning jockey Javier Castellano. “It was his first time going two turns and first time going longer so those were my only concerns. I got the ideal trip inside and once I took him out he took off and galloped away. Very professional horse.”

A son of Violence from the A.P. Indy mare Marion Ravenwood, Lost Ark is now a perfect two-for-two after winning his debut at Belmont Park on July 3.

Nest, by Curlin, also is conditioned by Pletcher.

The Sapling win boosted Lost Ark's lifetime earnings to $169,500. He was bred in Kentucky by Ashview Farm and Colts Neck Stables and sold to agent Steve Young for $275,000 out of the Ashview Farm consignment at the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

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Epicenter Dominates Fellow 3YOs With Open-Lengths Travers Win

Winchell Thoroughbreds' beaten Kentucky Derby (G1) favorite Epicenter proved his prowess against the nation's top 3-year-olds Saturday in the $1.25 million Runhappy Travers Stakes (G1) at Saratoga, taking the “Mid-Summer Derby” from pacesetter Cyberknife.

Getting a stalking trip under Joel Rosario, the Not This Time colt was up to challenge Cyberknife in early stretch, then shook free to tally by 5 1/4 lengths while posting his first win at the top level and providing trainer Steve Asmussen his first Travers victory.

Cyberknife, track record-setting winner of the TVG Haskell Invitational (G1) July 23 at Monmouth, hung on for second, an nose in front of Zandon in third. Kentucky Derby victor Rich Strike was a gallant fourth, a neck back.

The even-money favorite in the eight-horse field, Epicenter covered 1 1/4 miles in 2:00.72 on a fast track.

Runner-up in the Kentucky Derby, beaten three-quarters of a length by Rich Strike, and a closing second to Early Voting in the Preakness (G1), Epicenter entered off victory in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy July 30 at Saratoga. He became the 12th horse to sweep the Jim Dandy-Travers double

Epicenter, who is out of the Candy Ride mare Silent Candy, returned $4.

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