Arcangelo won the $1.25 million Travers by a length at Saratoga on Saturday, giving trainer Jena Antonucci her second major Grade 1 victory after the colt won the Belmont Stakes. “I guess the more this horse does, the more we’re going to keep writing some history,” Antonucci said. The day was marred by the deaths of two horses, including New York Thunder in the $500,000 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial.
Kentucky Derby winner Mage is expected to race for the first time since finishing third in the Preakness when the 3-year-old colt takes on seven rivals in the $1 million Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park on Saturday. Mage drew the No. 4 post position on Wednesday and was made the co-second choice behind 5-2 morning-line favorite Arabian Knight, who will be looking to give trainer Bob Baffert his 10th win in the 1 1/8-mile race that is the highlight of the meet at this New Jersey shore track. Tapit Trice, the Todd Pletcher-trainer colt who finished third in the Belmont Stakes and seventh in the Derby, also is 3-1 along with Mage.
After second-place finishes in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, Epicenter finds his way to the winner's circle while Derby winner Rich Strike finishes fourth.