The highlight race of the Saratoga meeting is the $1 million Travers Stakes Presented by Shadwell Farm (G1), a 1 1/4 mile trip over the main track for 3-year-olds. 40,723 were on hand at the historic oval, enjoying ideal racing conditions with temperatures in the 80's. Jim Dandy Stakes runner-up Pyro was sent off as the 7-2 favorite in the field of 12, over Swaps Stakes third place finisher Colonel John at 4-1 and Henry Walton Stakes winner Mambo In Seattle at 5-1.
Jockey Alan Garcia sent Da' Tara to the lead immediately, and he set the pace of 23.91, 48.06, 1:12.12, and 1:37.17 over the fast track while being stalked by Tizbig. Pyro was unhurried near the back of the field for the first 6 furlongs, while Colonel John, who broke in the air at the start, sat up close to the pace in fourth saving ground the whole way. Da' Tara stubbornly held onto the lead into the stretch, but tired badly in mid stretch to eventually finish fifth. Colonel John launched his bid at the top of the lane and took over from the tiring Da' Tara inside the 1/8 pole. Mambo in Seattle, unhurried early, came into the lane 6 wide and closed well through the stretch, but Colonel John held him off at the line for the hard-fought victory by a nose in 2:03.20 over the fast track. It was a long 5 1/4 lengths back to late-running favorite Pyro third.
