You Can't Always Get What You Want (Rolling Stones, 1968)

It's warm up weekend.

Sure, there's the Coaching Club American Oaks at Belmont, but no Rachel Alexandra. There's the Nijinsky Stakes on the turf at Woodbine with Rahy's Attorney (ho hum) and there's the Eddie Read Handicap on the turf at Del Mar with American Handicap winner Monterey Jazz and seven others (another ho hum)...

But wait 'til next weekend, perhaps the best of the summer before the Travers on Aug. 29 ... Next weekend is when all three winners of the Triple Crown races will be in action ... Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird was vanned from Churchill Downs to Mountaineer Racetrack and Casino for next Saturday night's West Virginia Derby (do we really believe a Derby winner is running in West by God Virginia?)






And the next day, at 6:14 pm, is the Haskell Invitational showdown between Preakness winning filly Rachel Alexandra and Belmont Stakes winner Summer Bird ... The two will be meeting for the first time and the race promises to be a doozy. Add Arkansas Derby winner Papa Clem to the mix, not to mention stakes-winning Munnings and a few local hotshots, and who knows what'll happen when the filly takes on the boys for the second time... She is coming off a billion-length win in the Mother Goose a few weeks ago against a few rivals competing for second place. She's win seven in a row, all under Calvin Borel, and who knows how Cajun Boy will approach this race at Monmouth, where he rarely rides. Hopefully, a few races over the course is on his agenda, not the Jersey Shore only down the block.

While the Haskell has two of the Triple Crown race winners, the greatest meet in the world -- Saratoga -- will be entering its first weekend topped by Saturday's Jim Dandy Stakes, featuring Kensei, the Dwyer winner owned by Jess Jackson, who owns Rachel Alexandra. An aside: Quality Road, the Florida Derby winner who would have been the Derby favorite but suffered a quarter crack and missed the Triple Crown races, is set to return in the Amsterdam on Aug. 3 _ a sprint also featuring Capt. Candyman Can.

Let's get it on. It's summer racing at its best, and it's only a week away. And by Travers day, a showdown looms: Mine That Bird vs. Rachel Alexandra vs. Summer Bird.

Cool. Maybe, if you try sometime, you can always get what you want.

And I ask: Where is TV on this? ESPN? Forgetaboutit. Is there no national TV for the Derby winner? Or the filly in the Haskell? Is this sport nuts, or what?

For what it's worth _ the Haskell is worth a quarter-million dollars more this year, up to $1,250,000 .... And there's also a bonus for the winners of any Triple Crowns races who run in the Haskell. Nice work, Monmouth and its president Bob Kulina, always trying to put together the best race possible no matter what the price.

The Travers: Until They Meet Again

The Travers Stakes is the oldest major thoroughbred horse race in America. And when the 140th edition is run Saturday, Aug. 29 at grand old Saratoga, the field of 3-year-olds could make this a most memorable mile-and-a-quarter.
I'm even thinking the Midsummer Derby may top the Kentucky Derby for suspense: Mine That Bird vs. Rachel Alexandra vs. Summer Bird _ the Derby winner vs. the Preakness winner vs. the Belmont winner, plus a cast of 3-year-olds looking to avenge losses in the Triple Crown races as well as previously injured horses on the mend (like Quality Road).
A look-see:
_ Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird is set to run in the West Virginia Derby at Charles Town on Aug. 1, then show up at Saratoga and train up to the Travers. Hey? a Derby winner ever run in the West Virginia Derby?
_ Preakness winner Rachel Alexandra's schedule has yet to be determined, but as of now the Travers is not out of the question. Let's say the filly runs next in the Mother Goose later this month, and again about a month later. Could the Travers be next? Stay tuned.
_ Belmont winner Summer Bird is headed to the Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park on Aug. 2, followed by a trip to upstate New York for the Travers.
_ Florida Derby winner Quality Road, the likely Kentucky Derby favorite before an injury knocked him out, is back in training. If he bounces back from a quarter crack, Jimmy Jerkens could have him ready for the Travers.
_ While Belmont runner-up Dunkirk has been sidelined with an injury, Peter Pan winner Charitable Man, who was fourth in the Belmont, is headed to the Jim Dandy at Saratoga on Aug. 1 and then the Travers.
_ Santa Anita Derby winner Pioneerof the Nile is the best of the west, and finished second in the Derby. He is trained by Bob Baffert. Baffert will be inducted into the Hall of Fame during the Saratoga meet, and he just might have Pioneerof the Nile for the Travers.
_ Musket Man, third in the Derby and third in the Preakness, passed on the Belmont, will be back for the Haskell, and the Travers is an option.
_ Wood Memorial winner I Want Revenge, injured the morning of the Derby, is likely out of the picture, but just about every other 3-year-old is still in.
Let's see what happens.