(Epicenter wins the 153rd Travers Stakes at Saratoga / Photo by Chelsea Durand & Courtesy of NYRA)

From the NYRA Media Team:

Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Epicenter, who came up just shy of Grade 1 glory twice this spring in the Triple Crown, secured both his first top-level victory and a place at the top of the sophomore division with an emphatic 5 1/4-length victory under Joel Rosario in the 153rd renewal of the 10-furlong Grade 1, $1.25 million Runhappy Travers on Saturday at Saratoga Race Course.

Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen was rewarded for his patience throughout the year with Epicenter after watching the son of Not This Time finish a frustrating second in both the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby and Grade 1 Preakness. Epicenter bounced back from his troubled Preakness finish with a triumphant return victory by 1 1/2 lengths in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy on July 30 at the Spa.

Trainer Steve Asmussen — Epicenter (1st):

“It was really gratifying,” Asmussen said. “We walked over today with a tremendous amount of confidence in the horse, but definitely remember we felt exactly that way walking over for this year’s Derby. He was away cleanly and thought he was very comfortable and attending close enough to the pace, and just ran a very dominating performance against a very good group.”

Asmussen, who finished on-the-board with Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Gun Runner [3rd, 2016] and Midnight Bourbon [2nd, 2021], earned his first victory in the historic test for sophomores.

“It’s really exciting at Saratoga, coming from a racing family,” said Asmussen. “What Saratoga means to American racing, what the Travers means to Saratoga – I want to help paint the canoe. Saratoga is about tradition. Racing is about tradition. To have your name on that cup is very special.”

Asmussen said Rosario handled the race perfectly after uncertainty about how the pace would shape up.

“Beforehand, there was a lot of concern about who was going to be on the lead,” said Asmussen. “Early Voting appeared to have the most pace, but they definitely did not want to be on the lead this time. Off of that there was a concern how much pace there would be, but Joel handled Epicenter. He was away clean and in the rhythm he wants to be in and I thought he finished up the mile and a quarter very strong.”

Asmussen said Epicenter’s dramatic resume of close losses and easy victories demonstrates the drama that keeps horse racing exciting.

“I think that’s what makes racing so great. You’re bet on by what you’ve done, but what you’ve done previously doesn’t get it done for you,” said Asmussen. “For Epicenter to have competed in the Derby and the Preakness and still have this much horse now, we’re extremely proud of that. That’s what makes racing great.”

As for what’s next for Epicenter, Asmussen said the Grade 1, $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on November 5 at Keeneland is the logical goal, with a potential start between now and then still to be determined.

“As good as he ran in the Jim Dandy off the freshening, we’re very confident to do either,” Asmussen said. “When you think of the horses that are running and how excellent they are, what a great Breeders’ Cup Classic it will be if we can get them all lined up.”

Owner Ron Winchell — Epicenter:

Ron Winchell, owner of Winchell Thoroughbreds, said finding the winner’s circle with Epicenter after near misses was rewarding.

“As long as I can remember, the history of Saratoga and the horses my family has run over the years, the Travers is always the marquee race,” said Winchell. “Coming here with Gun Runner and running third and Midnight Bourbon running second last year, it just makes you want to win it that much more. It makes this win in this race that much more special for myself and my family.”

Jockey Joel Rosario — Epicenter: 

The Runhappy Travers was the 12th graded stakes victory of the meet for Rosario, setting a record for the most graded stakes wins by a rider in a single meeting at Saratoga.

“It’s amazing,” said Rosario. “I have a great agent. Ron Anderson is amazing and I have to thank him and everyone for all the opportunities they’ve given me.”

Rosario, who has been aboard for eight of Epicenter’s 10 starts, said Epicenter’s early position was just what he had hoped for.

“We wanted to be forwardly placed, and he was. He broke good and he was more in the race today,” said Rosario, who had piloted Epicenter to victory from last-of-4 in the Jim Dandy. “For a second I thought I could just keep going forward to the lead but it looked like those couple horses wanted to be more forwardly placed, so I just wanted to give him a good trip.

“It was a good trip,” Rosario added. “I was just following those two horses on the lead. I was inside there and I just wanted to take my time with where he was. He looked like he was a little more in the game today. He did great.”

Bred in Kentucky by Westwind Farms, Epicenter, a $260,000 purchase at the 2020 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, returned $4 for a $2 win wager and became the third Grade 1 winner for his young sire, who stands at Taylor Made Farm in Kentucky. Epicenter earned $670,000 in victory and improved his lifetime record to 10-6-3-0 with a bankroll of $2,940,639.

Trainer Brad Cox — Cyberknife (2nd):

Brad Cox, trainer of Cyberknife, said while it was not a specific plan to go to the lead, he and Geroux were happy to let the son of Gun Runner take charge if uncontested.

“I can’t predict what anyone else is going to do but I know we’re not going to take away anything that comes easy and we were doing it easy enough,” said Cox. “We were the second best horse today. At a mile-and-a-quarter, I thought the horse really battled and battled for second, held and I’m very, very proud of our horse.

Cyberknife, the 9-2 post-time second choice, arrived at the Travers from a second Grade 1 victory in the Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park. Cox said he was pleased with the strong showing from his colt.

“I thought he trained well leading up and he ran a big race,” said Cox. “When I saw three-quarters in eleven I thought, ‘Wow, we’re in a good spot here.’ Obviously, once I saw Joel ranging up, as easy as he was, I thought this was going to be [difficult]. Once they straightened up, I thought, ‘We got a shot here,’ but you could tell he was getting away from us a little bit. He’s a very good horse. Hats off to the winners, they deserve it. We were second best and I’m very proud of our horse.”

Jockey Flavien Prat — Zandon (3rd):

Flavien Prat, jockey aboard third-place finisher Zandon, said the son of Upstart lacked the last good kick he needed to get past Cyberknife for place honors.

“He made a good run there at the end and I thought he was going to be second, and he just couldn’t get by the other horse,” said Prat. “I thought he ran good.”

Jockey Sonny Leon — Rich Strike (4th):

Jockey Sonny Leon noted that Rich Strike, who closed from six lengths off the pace to be a hard-trying fourth, has grown mentally since his last-out sixth-place finish in the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets on June 11.

“He was doing really well. He just got a little tired in the last 50 yards,” said Leon, who rode just his second career race at the Spa. “He did a good job coming back after the layoff. He’s doing better every single time. I think, mentally, he’s growing up.

“It was a different track today,” Leon added. “I knew they weren’t going to go as fast as they were in the Kentucky Derby, 21 and 45, that wasn’t going to happen. But I’m very proud of how Rich Strike ran today.”

Live racing resumes Sunday at Saratoga with a 10-race card featuring the $135,000 Better Talk Now in Race 8 and the Grade 1, $500,000 Ballerina Handicap, offering a “Win and You’re In” berth to the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, in Race 9. First post is 1:05 p.m. Eastern.

Saratoga Live will present daily coverage and analysis of the summer meet at Saratoga Race Course on the networks of FOX Sports. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule.