The Spa Spot: Morning Breeze
Travers week begins with a 10-race Wednesday program. Six on the turf. First post is 1 p.m.
- The major news of the day will come out of the paddock at 11 a.m. when entries are listed and post positions drawn for Saturday's $1 million Travers. With Richard Dutrow saying that he plans to enter the New York-bred Willy Beamin before he runs in the Albany today, it looks like a field of 12 for Saratoga's marquee race. Three Kentucky Derby runners, Liaison, Hansen and Alpha will be in the field, but none of them were players in the Derby. Alpha probably earned himself the nod as the morning-line favorite with his win in the Jim Dandy.
- Willy Beamin has won three times since he was claimed in March for $25,000 by owner James Riccio and is the horse to beat in the $150,000 Albany for New York-bred 3-year-olds. To claim the Albany, Willy Beamin will have to do something he hasn't done yet: win going around two turns. The Chad Brown-trained Zivo won at the distance on July 29 and has the look of a contender in the Albany.
- Little Nick, who knocked Jackson Bend to the ground in a training track accident over the weekend, is running in the second race on the program. Jackson Bend was under tack and back at the track on Tuesday.