Velazquez to Ride Smart Transition in Travers
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Eclipse Sportswire
Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez will be aboard Arnold Zetcher's Curlin Stakes winner Smart Transition in the Grade 1 Travers, trainer John Shirreffs said Monday morning.
Velazquez, 43, replaces Junior Alvarado on the 3-year-old Smart Strike colt. Alvarado has breezed Smart Transition in each of his four works at Saratoga this summer and been up in the past three starts, including the Curlin.
"We're glad to have Johnny. I think it's great," Shirreffs said. "Johnny's a fabulous rider, a Hall of Fame rider, so we're very happy."
Velazquez has one victory from 14 Travers mounts, with Flower Alley in 2005. Third in the Saratoga rider standings with 31 wins entering Monday, he is Smart Transition's fourth rider in seven starts.
"Like in the last race, we're just looking to have a nice trip," Shirreffs said. "If he can find a place where the horse gets a good trip, I think we're in good shape."
Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito has secured the services of jockey Jose Ortiz for Mossarosa's Grade 2-placed Frammento in the Travers. In his only other Travers mount, the 21-year-old Ortiz was second by a nose to Will Take Charge with Moreno in 2013.
Ortiz ranked fourth with 23 wins at the current stand, 20 behind his older brother and meet leader, Irad Ortiz Jr.
"He's an energetic young rider, a terrific young rider, and we like him," Zito said. "We've had so much success with him. I think he's an up-and-coming rider that makes a good impression on me."
Two-time Travers-winning trainer Todd Pletcher said Monday that multiple Grade 2 winner Madefromlucky would bypass the Travers rather than face Triple Crown champion American Pharoah and instead point to the Grade 2, $1 million Pennsylvania Derby September 19 at Parx.
"I don't think it's any secret that the Pennsylvania Derby is going to be an easier race," Pletcher said. "He's the kind of horse that will probably benefit from a lively pace, and I'm not sure the Travers is going to be a real hot pace."
Source: NYRA Communications
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