The highlight of the Saratoga meeting is the "Midsummer Derby", the $1 million Travers Stakes (G1) for 3-year-olds, celebrating its 138th running this year. A field of 7 contested the 1 1/4 miles on a hot humid day before a crowd of just 38,909. Kentucky Derby and Jim Dandy Stakes winner Street Sense was sent off as the 2-5 favorite over Jim Dandy third place finisher Sightseeing at 9-2 and 8-1 third choice C P West, runner-up in the Jim Dandy.
C P West and Grasshopper battled on the front end through fractions of 23.68, 48.18, and 1:12.42 while being stalked by Street Sense the whole way around. C P West tired entering the stretch, allowing Grasshopper to inherit the lead through a mile in 1:36.93. Regular jockey Calvin Borel set Street Sense for the drive entering the lane, taking him slightly wider in order to move up alongside Grasshopper. After a hard-fought duel through the length of the stretch, Street Sense pulled away inside the 1/16 pole to prevail by just 1/2 a length in a running time of 2:02.69 for 1 1/4 miles on the fast main track. It was a long 10 1/4 lengths back to late running Helsinki in third, who finished a neck ahead of Sightseeing in fourth.
