In the days leading up to the $1.25 million Travers Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course on Saturday, the team at usracing.com is publishing profiles of the 3-year-olds in the field.
His regal pedigree and striking appearance turned Strategic Focus into a $500,000 yearling, and the chestnut son of Gun Runner and grandson of Curlin was sent to A-list trainer Chad Brown. After only three races, he's being thrown into the deep end against superstar Sovereignty.
It's the first graded stakes for a colt who's still eligible for a non-winners-of-1 allowance, and Brown is realistic about his chances.
“If Sovereignty runs his race, everybody else is running for second, but I'm OK with that,” Brown said. “I'd be happy with that, but it's Saratoga and anything can happen.”
Strategic Focus must focus on getting out of the gate without incident. He smacked into it in his last two races after breaking next to last in his winning debut. He had no trouble moving into contention every time, but he was disqualified to second in an optional claimer before fading to third as the 3-5 favorite in the listed Curlin Stakes.
“He just packed it in when he made the lead,” Brown said. “I have to think it's mental because the horse can definitely get the distance.” The addition of blinkers should help.
Saturday's Travers will be the first time he won't be the betting choice. He's 6-1 on the morning line and likely to go off at slightly lower odds because of Brown and rider Flavien Prat.
“He looks good, and it's obviously a tall order here,” Brown said. "We're going to try.”
Inexperienced colt has plenty of upside and fits underneath in exotics. A win bet is not recommended.
Notes: Brown, 46, is a native of Mechanicville, N.Y., just down the road from Saratoga Springs. He covets the Travers victory that has eluded him. “Growing up around here, the Travers was the biggest race for me and my family,” he said ... The future Hall of Famer has earned five Eclipse Awards for leading trainer. He has produced 14 individual champions and won 19 Breeders' Cup races ... Strategic Focus breezed 5 furlongs in 1:01.55 Saturday over Saratoga's main track.
