ESPN Horse Racing

Rachel Alexandra has provided a frame of reference within which all things thoroughbred will be viewed between now and the Breeders' Cup, in which she will not be a participant, principal owner Jess Jackson's oft-stated distain for synthetic racecourses a matter of record from the outset of his participation in what is fast becoming one of those seasons if not careers that will long be warmly remembered by the witnesses.

The 140th Travers will be run on Saturday at Saratoga Race Course and judged within that frame and if there is a horse among the seven males entered on Wednesday capable of defeating the sensational belle of the 2009 ball it is one denied the opportunity to make his case during the spring now with the opportunity at hand to make a statement on his own behalf.

The withdrawal of Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird from the Travers only hours before the close of entries was a loss to the event, but few outside his own inner circle would give the gelding much of a chance against Rachel Alexandra, the condition of his epiglottis notwithstanding. All but one of the others, including the sensational filly's stable mate, Kensei, are in a league other than her's. She will move on next week to face older males in the Woodward Stakes, a race in which age and sex allowances seem almost superfluous, only a widening of the mismatch. If she is indeed, as many believe, the best 3-year-old female to race in this country since the immortal Ruffian, Rachel Alexandra will leave her opposition in the Woodward gasping.

But then, where does Jackson take Rachel Alexandra?

The obvious spot is the Beldame at Belmont, for which the purse has been raised to $750,000 if she and the undefeated but ponderous 5-year-old behemoth Zenyatta both participate. This might also attract the attention of the Canadian filly Careless Jewel, who is an immense and mercurial talent in her own right, the Alabama Stakes more than ample evidence of her substance. Great race to be sure and one for which many have clamored in a summer that has revolved around the girls blessed with great talent, depth and charisma.

Jackson, however, is not always bent on the obvious and Saturday's Travers has great potential to bring on a new wave of clamor if the most prestigious title available to a 3-year-old outside the Triple Crown is seized by Quality Road.

Had an injured hoof not kept the colt, who is about the size of Zenyatta and still growing, out of the Triple Crown, the landscape might well be very different in late August.

While Quality Road was still an unknown 2-year-old and in Jimmy Jerkens' charge, veteran jockey Richard Migliore was regularly aboard for morning work.

"I came back one day and told Jimmy, this is not only the best horse you're training, this is the best horse you've ever trained and maybe the best horse you'll ever train," Migliore said. "Then, he went to Florida and I stayed in New York."

Here is a horse capable of establishing course records for 9 and 6 ½ furlongs in successive races over different surfaces more than four months apart.

His victory in the Florida Derby -- easily the most impressive early season effort by any of those with designs on the Kentucky Derby -- stamped Quality Road as worthy of his name.

Edward P. Evans is not an easy man for whom to work. Reduced from breeder and owner of the Kentucky Derby favorite to spectator by an untimely and slow to heal quarter crack suffered after the Florida Derby, Evans sent Quality Road and other horses to Todd Pletcher.

Pletcher waited until Aug. 3 to return Quality Road into competition, electing to prep for the Travers in a sprint at Saratoga, the 6 ½-furlong Amsterdam. Despite stumbling at the start and racing five-wide, Quality Road not only won easily but in course-record time, 1:13.45, lowering a standard set in 1979 by Topsider.

Quality need not break the course record for 10 furlongs on Saturday. A Travers victory in his typical style would be sufficient to put the males within the 3-year-old division in perspective and reestablish his position at the fore.

The clamor then would turn to the prospect of his meeting Rachel Alexandra. Suddenly, the all-girl showdown at Belmont would seem less definitive than her presence in another race on the same afternoon as the Beldame.

If, as expected, Rachel Alexandra becomes the first female to win the Woodward next week, the Jockey Club Gold Cup awaits.

Paul Moran is a two-time winner of the Media Eclipse Award, and has received various honors from the National Association of Newspaper Editors, Society of Silurians, Long Island Press Club and Long Island Veterinary Medical Association. He has also been given the Red Smith Award for his coverage of the Kentucky Derby. Paul maintains paulmoranattheraces.blogspot.com and can be contacted at paulmoran47@hotmail.com.