August 30 - As expected, the early morning line on Saturday's epic $1,000,000 Travers Stakes (Gr 1) over 1 1/4 miles at Saratoga Racecourse in New York meant little, as 6/1 Afleet Express trumped 8/1 Fly Down across the line.

Ahead of the Saratoga feature, racing experts and fans alike were all too aware that despite its 11-horse field, the 2010 Travers Stakes could have been anyone's race, and even early favourite A Little Warm didn't overly impressive.

So when it came time for the start of the 141th Travers Stakes, the third Gr 1 outing of the day, betting fans were eager to see which of the 3-year-old colts would romp home first in one of America's wealthiest and most respected races.

From the start there was no indication that Afleet Express would trump Fly Down by a photo-finish nose, other than when his jockey Javier Castellano guided him to the rail, a racing position that had yielded other winners on the day.

So comfortably close to the rail in the middle of the field, Castellano kept Afleet Express in check as Miner's Express took the early lead. But when Trappe Shot failed to hug the rail ahead of him, Castellano grabbed it for himself.

Afleet Express then started to make his way up through the field until he was not far off tiring leaders Miner's Express and First Dude. Castellano made short work of the duo and was soon in the lead, still hugging the Saratoga rail.

But just as it looked like Fly Down had the race sewn up, Fly Down started his powerful challenge, and gained on Afleet Express with every stride. However, he should have started his challenge a second earlier, as the photo finish revealed.

Afleet Express completed the 2010 Travers Stakes in a time of 2:03.28, with Fly Down in second and First Dude in third. Said Afleet Express's trainer Jimmy Jerkens, 'I thought he might have gotten beat but I was happy that he ran so well.'

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2011/12/09 12:47:25 AM