August 27, 2011 - Saratoga Racecourse
Javier Castellano piloted Stay Thirsty to victory in the Travers Stakes this afternoon at Saratoga.
Stay Thirsty overcame early trouble, when briefly bobbling at the start, to go on to a fairly decisive win over longshots Rattlesnake Bridge and J W Blue.
This horse has improved with every effort after a disappointing finish in the Kentucky Derby. He has to be ranked the top 3 year old in the United States at this time after two nice wins in a row.
You can't help but like this horse and his energetic owner, Mike Repole. He is a talkative jittery guy, who you can tell loves horse racing. He got just about as excited as a little kid in a candy store when Stay Thirsty won the Travers. I think he hugged his whole family after the win.
Trainer Todd Pletcher said that Stay Thirsty could go next out in the Jockey Club Gold Cup and possibly after that, a year end race in the Breeders Cup Classic would be likely.
As a side note, Repole's other top 3 year old Uncle Mo was narrowly beaten in his long awaited return in the Kings Bishop Stakes. The race just before the Travers.