Horse racing | Colonel John ranks highest

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — By the narrowest of noses and thanks to a favorable bob of the head, Colonel John won the $1 million Travers Stakes for 3-year-olds Saturday at Saratoga.

The finish was so close Robby Albarado, riding runner-up Mambo in Seattle, raised his whip in a victory salute after crossing the wire, only to be disappointed when the order of finish was posted.

The biggest story leading into the Grade I Travers had been the absence of Big Brown, the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner who instead is expected to race on turf Sept. 13 at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J. That was good news for Colonel John and the others who went to the gate in a Travers that lacked a marquee name and its usual significance.

With 12 horses, many with modest credentials, the 1-¼-mile race appeared wide open on paper, and that is how it played out on the track.

The field, the biggest for a Travers since 1990, bunched up with a quarter-mile remaining. After overcoming a bumping incident, Colonel John emerged from the pack with less than a furlong to go, but Mambo in Seattle was gearing up for a run on the outside.

About four strides from the wire, Mambo in Seattle put his head in front and appeared to have more momentum. But he put his head down at the wrong time, just as Colonel John made a final surge.

"Robby was kind of celebrating, so I thought he had won it," said Garrett Gomez, the winning rider. "I had my head down and I was just trying to squeeze the last ounces I could get out of my horse."

Albarado offered no excuses.

"I thought I had it," he said. "It never feels good to lose. I just got beat."

Colonel John, trained by Eoin Harty, prevailed in 2 minutes, 3-1/5 seconds and paid $10.40 to win as the second betting choice.

Pyro, favored at 7-2, finished third, 5-¼ lengths behind Mambo in Seattle.

Other races

• Earlier on the Saratoga card, colt Visionaire ($15.60 to win) took the Grade I King's Bishop for 3-year-olds; 8-year-old Shakis ($14.80) prevailed in the Grade II Bernard Baruch on turf; and Porte Bonheur ($24.60) upset 2-5 shot Indyanne by a half-length in the Grade III Victory Ride for 3-year-old fillies.

Indyanne, owned by Dave and Jill Heerensperger of Bellevue, was ridden by Russell Baze and lunged at the start of the 6-furlong race.

"We should have won it," Baze said. Indyanne was last of six at the start call and moved up to lead after a quarter-mile. Indyanne entered the race 4 for 4, winning by a combined 32-½ lengths.