Shirreffs Enjoys American Pharaoh Phenomenon

"It was exciting, and it was great to see all of the fans turn out. It was really a great morning," he said.

Shirreffs trains Travers contender Smart Transition for owner/breeder Arnold Zetcher and the Curlin Stakes winner was also on the track during the reserved period to "hack around and just jog" as part of his final preparations.

"I don't know if my horse thought all of the cheering was for him this morning, but the crowd definitely was cheering for Johnny [Velazquez] when they went by and were announced," he said. "I think it's great that American Pharoah came to the Travers, which is such a historic race. I think the fans are really looking forward to it, and I am as well."

"That was the thing that made us think about this race after the Curlin because he finished so well," said Shirreffs. "I always liked this horse but he never really got the trip he needed, and then in the Curlin, [jockey] Junior [Alvarado] gave him a great trip. As far as physically, he is able to do a lot more now than what he could four months ago. He's much fitter and much more experienced on the racetrack."

Nonetheless, Smart Transition, who has two wins, one second and one third in six starts, has yet to encounter the crowds, the cameras and the noise he will on Saturday starting with the walkover.

"For this morning's session, there was such a huge crowd cheering and clapping when they announced Johnny Velazquez," said Shirreffs.  "As my horse was starting off, American Pharaoh went by and there was even more clapping and cheering. I thought that was good test for him and he handled it well. He's come a long way and we're excited about the race."

Jolley certainly knows how to bring a horse up to the "Mid-Summer Derby", having won the 1976 edition with Honest Pleasure and the 1979 running with General Assembly. He also was part of the 1961 Travers, one of the most dramatic and noted races in history, when his charge, Ridan, was defeated by a nose by Jaipur as they crossed under the wire.

While taking nothing away from Triple Crown champion American Pharoah, he thinks this 1 ¼-mile race contested over a surface with a well-earned reputation as the "Graveyard of Champions" presents a stiff challenge for the 1-5 morning line favorite.

"It's really tough for a horse who hasn't trained over this track to win on it," said Jolley, who captured the Kentucky Derby with the filly Genuine Risk and again with Foolish Pleasure. "This track is very different from the tracks he's been running on and from the one he's been training over [Del Mar]. Horses who have been training over it all along and have run well over it have an advantage."

Jolley added that Texas Red, who is a physically imposing horse, has piqued his interest.

"What he did in a tough race like the Jim Dandy was really impressive when you consider that it was only his second race in eight months and he won it the way he did. And the fact that he did it in 1:48 and change makes it even more impressive. I expect him to move forward from that race. I also like the way Frosted [beaten a half-length] ran in that race."

"The three you have to think figure are American Pharoah, Texas Red and Frosted," he said.

Romans thinks Keen Ice, who has trained here since the start of the meet and attracted his share of admiring looks and positive comment when out on the track, needs to be included in the conversation. 

Keen Ice was a solid second to American Pharoah last out in the Grade 1 Haskell.

"He's gotten bigger and stronger since then," said the Eclipse Award-winning trainer. 

"He keeps maturing and putting it all together. He'll like the mile and a quarter."

Kent Desormeaux rode Keen Ice, a son of two-time Horse of the Year Curlin, in his last three races which include the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes. Desormeaux is sticking with Texas Red, who is trained by his brother, Keith, and Javier Castellano will take the call on Keen Ice.

As Castellano, who was aboard another horse getting ready to head out to the track, said hello to Romans and the small crowd around him, he asked the trainer of Keen Ice, "All good? Is he ready?"

Romans, who seeks his first Travers victory, said, "Yeah. It's all up to you now."

Source: NYRA Communications