by Phil Janack

Though the public and the experts had their doubts, trainer Eoin Harty never wavered in his belief in Colonel John.

The three-year-old Tiznow colt rewarded Harty's faith by overcoming a rough trip to win the $1-million Travers Stakes Presented by Shadwell Farm (G1) on Saturday at Saratoga Race Course.

His gutsy win by a nose over rapidly improving Mambo in Seattle helped elevate Colonel John to among the leaders of the three-year-old division.

"He's all heart," Harty said. "He broke in the air at the start and came into a lot of traffic trouble at the top of the stretch, but I think he won it on heart.

"I can't say enough about the horse. I always believed he had that ability, and I think he showed it."

The blanket of red carnations hung over the wooden railing at Harty's barn on the Saratoga backstretch Sunday morning, adding a bright splash of color, as Colonel John rested in his nearby stall.

Owned by WinStar Farm, Colonel John is scheduled to be shipped to California Monday morning. His next start is undecided, but the ultimate goal will be the $5-million Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) on Santa Anita's synthetic surface on October 25.

"I could put another prep into him, but I think I could probably bring him there on works between now and then," Harty said. "It's something I'd have to discuss with the team.

The Travers win was Colonel John's first in two tries on a conventional dirt track. He also had traffic trouble in his previous attempt, a sixth-place finish in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) on May 3.

"Coming for home, someone rammed up from behind," Harty said of the Travers. "It was all [jockey] Garrett [Gomez] could do to hang on. Things got pretty scary.

"Today, he doesn't seem any worse for wear. He's in good shape. It was such a roughly run race, it's a miracle he survived the way he had to run. He had a little scrape on his hind leg, but it's nothing serious. It was a courageous effort. He had every reason to get beat."

Neil Howard, who trains Mambo in Seattle, said his horse also came out of the race well. The close runner-up finish was the second straight narrow Travers defeat for Howard, whose Grasshopper lost by a half-length to Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense in 2007.

"I am proud of him. He ran great," Howard said. "It was two quality colts at the wire. My horse couldn't have been doing any better, in the barn and on the racetrack. I'm just glad he ran well, because at least it confirms what you felt.

"I don't think he could have done much more. He gave it 110%. Colonel John was, what, the second choice for the Derby? There's not much you can say, really."

The $500,000 Super Derby (G2) at Louisiana Downs on September 20 against three-year-olds is one possible spot for Mambo in Seattle’s next start. Howard said he would also take a look at the Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park against older horses as a prep for the Breeders' Cup.

"We haven't decided how we're going to finish out the year," Howard said.
"I think [the Classic] is definitely an option. We want to watch him close and make sure he comes out of the race good, and see who's doing what as much as you can do that."

Macho Again, who was attempting to become the fourth straight Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) winner to follow with a Travers victory, had X-rays taken on his ankle as a precaution after finishing eighth.

Trainer Dallas Stewart said Macho Again, caught in a traffic jam, hit a nerve on the back of his ankle and was limping after the race.

"He almost fell down," Stewart said. "It stung him pretty good. Thank goodness he's okay. The bones are fine, and he ate up good. We'll live to fight another day."

Phil Janack is a New York-based Thoroughbred Times correspondent