Favored Jaxon Traveler Wires Bachelor

HOT SPRINGS, AR – Just 1 race after finishing a narrow second in the Gazebo Stakes in his lone career loss, West Point Thoroughbreds and Melvin Delfiner’s Jaxon Traveler, the 8/5 favorite, left nothing to chance with his gate to wire victory in Saturday’s $200,000 Bachelor Stakes.

Jaxon Traveler broke very alertly and went straight to the lead, setting fractions of :22 2/5 and :45 4/5 for the first 1/2-mile, while under pressure from longshot Sea to Success.

The winner shook clear late in the turn and cruised home to a comfortable 2 3/4-length victory over his Steve Asmussen-trained stablemate Cazadero. Bob’s Edge closed from last to get third.

The winning time was 1:10 over a fast track. 

“He jumped out pretty good today,” winning jockey Francisco Arrieta said. “I just let him get clear on the lead. I got a little pressure and I just let him run. He’s a really nice horse and he did his job great.”

Jaxon Traveler, a 3-year-old Munnings colt, won for the fourth time in 5 career starts and has now earned $270,762. He returned $5.40, $3.60 and $2.40.