In one of the most anticipated races of the Travers Stakes weekend, Domestic Product delivered the best performance of his career, outpacing Prince of Monaco and Book’em Danno to win the $500,000 Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes at Saratoga Race Course on August 24.

Running well behind the high pace of Grade 2 Amsterdam Stakes winner World Record, Domestic Product launched his attack down the home straight, storming past his battling rivals and winning a battle to the finish with favourite Prince of Monaco, who was a neck back in second place.

Domestic Product, ridden by Flavien Prat, stopped the clock on a fast track at 1:21.71 for seven furlongs and received a winner’s purse of $11.00.

Book’em Danno, winner of the Woody Stephens Stakes presented by Mohegan Sun at Saratoga in June, completed the trio. Timberlake finished fourth in an 11-horse field, with leader World Record fading to sixth.

Domestic Product is trained by Chad Brown, who also trained the colt’s sire, Practical Joke, and helped him to a win in the 2017 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes.

Rising 4-year-old sprinter Mullikin improved his record to 4 of 4 in 2024 with a start-to-finish victory in the $500,000 Grade 1 Forego Stakes at Saratoga Race Course on Travers Stakes Day (August 24).

Flavien Prat rode the winner, who led the way and raced seven furlongs in 1:21.75 on a fast track. Forego was Mullikin’s first Grade 1 win in his nine-race career. Trainer Rudy Brisset earned his first career Grade 1 victory with the four-year-old son of Violence.

Gun Pilot, stalking the inside early, overtook a couple of horses to finish second but could never threaten the winner. Angkor, chasing the winner early, finished third. Cagliostro finished a comfortable fourth after stumbling badly at the start. -Byron King

Society tracked pacesetter Munnys Gold and took over at the quarter pole to take a 2.5-length victory in the $500,000 Grade 1 Ballerina Handicap at Saratoga Race Course on August 24.

Homebred Juddmonte Scylla finished second, while favourite Vahva tried to close on the inside but held on to finish third. Former leader Munnys Gold faltered to finish seventh. Society’s time for seven furlongs on a fast track was 1:22.00.

Ballerina was a “win and you’re in” Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series race, and the win earned Society an all-expenses-paid trip to the PNC Bank Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint on Nov. 2 at Del Mar. Society finished fourth in the 2023 edition at Santa Anita Park.

Society, a 5-year-old daughter of Gun Runner, made her second start for trainer Steve Asmussen in 2024. She paid $9.40 to win under Tyler Gaffalione. – Teresa Genaro

Far Bridge defeated the heavily backed Godolphin pair of Measured Time and Silver Knott with a surprise start-to-finish victory in the $750,000 Grade 1 Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer Stakes on August 24 at Saratoga Race Course.

Under a masterful ride by newly elected Hall of Famer Joel Rosario, four-year-old Far Bridge crossed the early sections in the lead and still had enough power to fend off a charge from Measured Time on the track.

Far Bridge ($18.40), trained by Christophe Clement, crossed the line with a final time of 2:29.51 for the 1 1/2 miles on firm turf. Measured Time and Silver Knott, who tracked Far Bridge the entire time, finished second and third for trainer Charlie Appleby.

With his victory in Sword Dancer, a Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series event, Far Bridge automatically receives a starting place (including entry fee) for the Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf on November 2nd in Del Mar. — Bob Kieckhefer