Horse Racing News on August 23, 2014

Trainer Jimmy Jerkens had the best horse in the $1.25 million Travers Stakes -- but it wasn't the one everyone was betting on.

Artemis Agrotera polished off pacesetter La Verdad mid-stretch and sprinted clear to an overpowering victory in the $500,000 Ballerina Stakes Aug. 23 at Saratoga Race Course.

Alex and JoAnn Lieblong's The Big Beast jumped up from allowance company to Grade 1 competition and did not disappoint his connections Aug. 23, running down pacesetter Fast Anna with powerful strides to ace the $500,000 King's Bishop Stakes.

Phipps Stable's homebred Abaco came all the way from last to get up by a neck in Saturday's Grade 2, $250,000 Ballston Spa Stakes at Saratoga.

Irish Surf, entered in both the Del Mar Handicap and $1 million TVG Pacific Classic this weekend at Del Mar, will opt for the Aug. 24 Classic, trainer Dan Hendricks reported.