SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. -- Ten Most Wanted finally delivered a big race, cruising past a tiring Peace Rules in the stretch for an easy victory in the $1 million Travers Stakes at Saratoga Race Course on Saturday.
For a race that lost its luster when local hero Funny Cide and Empire Maker were scratched because of health woes, the finish had the record Travers crowd of 66,122 cheering all the way through the stretch run.
Ten Most Wanted, runner-up in the Belmont Stakes and in his last race, the Swaps Stakes, caught torrid pacesetters Peace Rules and Strong Hope at the top of the stretch. And under the patient guidance of Pat Day, Ten Most Wanted pulled off to a 4 1/2-length win over Peace Rules.
"He put it all together today," said trainer Wally Dollase, who shipped his colt in from California and put blinkers on him for the first time.
Peace Rules was Bobby Frankel's pinch runner after the trainer pulled Belmont winner Empire Maker out of the Travers on Thursday. But the 1 1/4-mile distance took its toll on Haskell winner Peace Rules and Jim Dandy winner Strong Hope, who both faded in the stretch.
Strong Hope, who came into the Travers with a five-race winning streak, was third, followed by Wild and Wicked, Congrats and Sky Mesa.
Sent off as the co-favorite with Sky Mesa at 5-2, Ten Most Wanted returned $7.50, $3.40 and $2.90. Peace Rules, with Jerry Bailey aboard, paid $3.80 and $2.80. Strong Hope, ridden by John Velazquez, paid $3.10 to show. Winning time for 1 1/4 miles was 2:02 after a sizzling pace.
The win was a sweet one for Dollase, who also won the 1997 Travers with Ten Most Wanted's sire, Deputy Commander. The last trainer to accomplish the feat was Bert Muholland, who won with Eight Thirty in 1939 and Lights Up in 1950.
"This one was a lot easier," Dollase said, referring to Deputy Commander's nose win over Behrens in '97. "He's bred to do this. I was confident he'd get the mile-and-a-quarter. He got a perfect ride by Pat. I love to come to New York. I don't know what it is. I just seem to do well here."
Ten Most Wanted ran a disappointing ninth in the Kentucky Derby and came away with a back problem. He was treated by a chiropractor and recovered to finish three-quarters of a length behind Empire Maker in the Belmont Stakes.
An 11-person partnership owns Ten Most Wanted, with J. Paul Reddam the primary owner with a 25-percent share. The colt earned $600,000 and boosted his career earnings to $1,253,460 with three wins in nine starts.
With his fourth Travers win, Day equaled the record shared by three other riders -- Eddie Arcaro, Braulio Baeza and Jimmy McLaughlin. Day also won with Easy Goer in 1989, Java Gold in 1987 and Play Fellow in 1983.
http://www.sltrib.com/2003/Aug/08242003/sports/86660.asp
For a race that lost its luster when local hero Funny Cide and Empire Maker were scratched because of health woes, the finish had the record Travers crowd of 66,122 cheering all the way through the stretch run.
Ten Most Wanted, runner-up in the Belmont Stakes and in his last race, the Swaps Stakes, caught torrid pacesetters Peace Rules and Strong Hope at the top of the stretch. And under the patient guidance of Pat Day, Ten Most Wanted pulled off to a 4 1/2-length win over Peace Rules.
"He put it all together today," said trainer Wally Dollase, who shipped his colt in from California and put blinkers on him for the first time.
Peace Rules was Bobby Frankel's pinch runner after the trainer pulled Belmont winner Empire Maker out of the Travers on Thursday. But the 1 1/4-mile distance took its toll on Haskell winner Peace Rules and Jim Dandy winner Strong Hope, who both faded in the stretch.
Strong Hope, who came into the Travers with a five-race winning streak, was third, followed by Wild and Wicked, Congrats and Sky Mesa.
Sent off as the co-favorite with Sky Mesa at 5-2, Ten Most Wanted returned $7.50, $3.40 and $2.90. Peace Rules, with Jerry Bailey aboard, paid $3.80 and $2.80. Strong Hope, ridden by John Velazquez, paid $3.10 to show. Winning time for 1 1/4 miles was 2:02 after a sizzling pace.
The win was a sweet one for Dollase, who also won the 1997 Travers with Ten Most Wanted's sire, Deputy Commander. The last trainer to accomplish the feat was Bert Muholland, who won with Eight Thirty in 1939 and Lights Up in 1950.
"This one was a lot easier," Dollase said, referring to Deputy Commander's nose win over Behrens in '97. "He's bred to do this. I was confident he'd get the mile-and-a-quarter. He got a perfect ride by Pat. I love to come to New York. I don't know what it is. I just seem to do well here."
Ten Most Wanted ran a disappointing ninth in the Kentucky Derby and came away with a back problem. He was treated by a chiropractor and recovered to finish three-quarters of a length behind Empire Maker in the Belmont Stakes.
An 11-person partnership owns Ten Most Wanted, with J. Paul Reddam the primary owner with a 25-percent share. The colt earned $600,000 and boosted his career earnings to $1,253,460 with three wins in nine starts.
With his fourth Travers win, Day equaled the record shared by three other riders -- Eddie Arcaro, Braulio Baeza and Jimmy McLaughlin. Day also won with Easy Goer in 1989, Java Gold in 1987 and Play Fellow in 1983.
http://www.sltrib.com/2003/Aug/08242003/sports/86660.asp
