Tom Law

A year ago, trainer Shug McGaughey aimed 4-year-old filly Fair Point for an allowance on Travers Weekend. The filly won an allowance for non-winners of two-other-than earlier in the Saratoga Race Course meeting and her Hall of Fame conditioner hoped to race in a three-other-than next out. The race didn’t fill, so McGaughey entered her into the $100,000 Smart N Fancy Stakes going 5 1/2 furlongs on the turf. She won, earning her first stakes victory. Graham Motion’s Miss Ella finished second after winning the Caress Stakes earlier in the meet.

The sixth week of the 2017 Saratoga meet comes to a close with a nine-race card on the 34th day of racing Monday.

The long and rich history of America’s oldest 3-year-old stakes annually brings together a vast and varied collection of 3-year-olds.

Tucked down a winding private driveway along Fitch Road, just a few miles from Saratoga Race Course, is Dr. Bill Wilmot’s and Dr. Joan Taylor’s Stepwise Farm. The gorgeous property spans for over 100 acres with a cream colored barn sitting at the top of the hill at the end of the driveway.

Don’t stop if you’ve heard this one before. One Australian walks into a bar – er, winner’s circle – and says to another Australian, “So, do you think we’ve got time to get these two to Melbourne on the first Tuesday?”

Travers Week is here. The field is set – Tapwrit was pegged as the morning-line favorite in the field of 12 for the Midsummer Derby – and the sixth week of racing at Saratoga Race Course gets underway Wednesday with a 10-race card that features the $100,000 John’s Call and a solid steeplechase stakes.