BALLERINA STAKES

(GRADE 1)

BY The Moon led every step, every slow step, to win the seven-furlong Ballerina on Travers Day. Rajiv Maragh took the race by the scruff early, posting a tepid half-mile in 47.81s and By The Moon did the rest, securing a head decision over Highway Star and Carina Mia. Michelle Nevin trains By The Moon, who won for the third time in five starts this year.

By The Moon is out of the graded stakes-placed Malibu Moon mare By The Light, who Jay Em Ess Stable also raced.

“I used to gallop her mom. I’m like her Nana,” said Nevin. “She’s very similar to her mother, she’s very determined. From the get go she’s just been a really straightforward, hard-working, honest filly. Distance is key. Seven furlongs is her preferred trip and her last race was a great stepping-stone to get here. We’ve got to regroup and figure out how to go forward again. That was so exciting, I can hardly breathe.”

H. ALLEN JERKENS

STAKES (GRADE 1)

PRACTICAL Joke finally got back to what he does best, going one turn to win the Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens for owners Klaravich Stable and William Lawrence, trainer Chad Brown and jockey Joel Rosario. A gorgeous son of Into Mischief, Practical Joke had chased the classiest three-year-olds all spring but shortened to dominate the seven-furlong stakes.

Mike Ryan selected Practical Joke for his owners, purchasing him for $240,000 at Keeneland September sale.

“He was a very mature, very impressive physical,” Ryan said. “He had a boldness about him, masculine head, a very stoic horse. You watch him now and his mental constitution is extraordinary, and his physical. He really has a constitution that is mental and physical. He might be the most consistent three-year-old in America. If not he’s right up there with them. He runs hard every time.”

FOREGO STAKES

(GRADE 1)

DREFONG made up for a rare misstep by taking the Forego on Travers Day.

In his 2017 debut at Del Mar July 29th in the Grade 1 Bing Crosby, Drefong ducked in at the gap where the chute and oval connect and unseated Mike Smith. There would be no missteps in the Forego as Drefong broke from the outside and scampered to an easy score in the Grade 1 stakes.

Trained by Bob Baffert and ridden by Mike Smith, the son of Gio Ponti won for the sixth time in eight starts and upped his earnings to $1,523,385.