Denali sales grad V. E. Day prevails in thrilling Travers S. (G1)

V. E. Day’s rally down the Saratoga stretch carried the Denali Stud sales grad to a nail-biting nose victory over stablemate Wicked Strong in the $1.25 million Travers S. (G1) on Saturday.

Denali sold V. E. Day in 2012 at the Keeneland September Yearling sale, with Pete Bradley purchasing the chestnut colt for $105,000.

Trained by Jimmy Jerkens, V. E. Day was the less heralded of the duo saddled by his trainer on Saturday, but proved he was up to the task after closing from sixth in the last quarter mile to snatch the win in the final stride. V. E. Day ran 1 ¼ miles in 2:02.93 on a “fast” track that had a good amount of moisture in it from rains during the week.

“I wasn’t absolutely sure it was V. E. Day because he had so much mud on him, until they got a little closer and I saw the silks and then I knew it was him,” Jerkens said.

Owned by Magalen O. Bryant, V. E. Day has now won four consecutive races, including the $100,000 Curlin S. July 25 at Saratoga, and earned $670,000 to push his career bankroll to $829,010 in six starts.

V. E. Day was bred in Kentucky by Bluegrass Hall LLC. His dam California Sunset is out of Our Dear Sue, who is a full sister to 1988 Turf Champion and leading international sire Sunshine Forever.