Lady Rotha, the most recent filly to win the Travers Stakes in 1915 (photo by L. S. Sutcliffe/National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame)
A Filly Winning The Travers: It’s Been A While
By Brien Bouyea
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – On August 7, 1915, a filly named Lady Rotha was declared the winner of the Travers via disqualification. Little fuss was made regarding the gender of the bay daughter of multiple stakes winner Fayette. After all, Lady Rotha was the seventh filly to win the Travers in its first 46 runnings. More than a century later, Lady Rotha’s name remains relevant as the most recent filly to win Saratoga’s signature race.
Only four fillies – Hall of Famers Cicada [last in 1962], Chris Evert [third in 1974], and Davona Dale [fourth in 1979], and most recently Canadian Horse of the Year Wonder Gadot [last in 2018] – have competed in the Travers since 1960.
Will this be the year a filly breaks through and ends more than a century of male dominance in the Travers?
The spectacular Kenny McPeek-trained filly Thorpedo Anna, who is undefeated in four starts in 2024, will exit the inside post under Brian Hernandez, Jr. in Saturday’s 155th Grade 1, $1.25 million DraftKings Travers with the potential of producing a historic result.
A victory would see Thorpedo Anna join Maiden [1865], Hall of Famer Ruthless [1867], The Banshee [1868], Sultana [1876], Liza [1895], Ada Nay [1903], and Lady Rotha [1915] in the Saratoga record book as filly Travers winners.
Here is a closer look at the seven fillies to win the Travers:
Maiden (Aug. 7, 1865)
Maiden earned a place in American racing lore as the first filly to win the Travers and later as the dam of Parole, one of the most accomplished racehorses of the 19th century. Maiden was one of four fillies in the seven-horse Travers field, which also included the colt Richmond, winner of that year’s Jersey Derby. Maiden had just a single victory in five career races before Saratoga, but she was much the best in her lone New York appearance of the year, winning the Travers “easily by two lengths” according to Spirit of the Times. Oliata was second and Sarah K. third.
Maiden went on to win the Produce Stakes that October during the Kentucky Association autumn meeting at Lexington. She also defeated Sarah K. in the spring of 1866 at Magnolia Race Course in Alabama for her fourth and final career victory.
Following her racing career, Maiden was bred to Leamington in 1873. The mating produced Hall of Famer Parole, owned by Pierre Lorillard. One of the greatest geldings in American racing history, Parole competed for 11 years, compiling a ledger of 59-28-17 from 138 starts. His wins included two editions of the prestigious Saratoga Cup. Parole’s success prompted Lorillard to purchase Maiden for $10,000.
Ruthless (Aug. 7, 1867)
The most accomplished of the famed “Barbarous Battalion,” Ruthless earned her high place in racing history by winning the inaugural Belmont Stakes in 1867 at Jerome Park and the fourth running of the Travers that summer at Saratoga.
Bred and raced by Francis Morris, Ruthless was sired by Eclipse (GB) out of the Simoom (GB) mare Barbarity (IRE). Foaled in New York at her owner’s farm in Westchester County, Ruthless was the first of five full sisters by Eclipse out of Barbarity. Along with Ruthless, there was Relentless [winner of the 1867 Saratoga Stakes], Remorseless [Champion 2-year-old filly of 1869], Regardless [winner of the 1874 Alabama], and Merciless [winner of the 1876 Alabama].
An imposing bay of 16 hands, Ruthless was the best of these great sisters. As a 2-year-old in 1866, she made her debut on July 28 in the Saratoga Stakes at one mile, finishing second. Two days later, she broke her maiden at Saratoga, winning a $500 purse. On Oct. 1, 1866, Ruthless won the Nursery Stakes at Jerome Park. Nine days later, she finished second to stablemate Monday in the Trial Stakes at Paterson, N.J.
Ruthless began her sophomore season with a victory in the Spring Stakes at Jerome Park on May 23, 1867, and returned one day later to win a $500 purse. On June 4, Ruthless finished second Monday in the 1½-mile Jersey Derby. Monday was a standout colt, winning five of his seven starts, including the Paterson Derby and Sequel Stakes. His only defeats were to Ruthless in his first and final races. Fifteen days after the Jersey Derby, Ruthless defeated three colts — De Courcey, Rivoli, and Monday — in the first running of the Belmont Stakes, which was contested at 1⅝ miles at Jerome Park.
Seven weeks after her victory in the Belmont, Ruthless confirmed her superiority over colts by winning the Travers, contested at 1¾ miles. Ruthless won once more, defeating Virgil and De Courcey in the two-mile Sequel Stakes at Saratoga five days after her Travers win. On Sept. 1, she finished second in the 2¼-mile Jersey St. Leger. A leg injury while training that fall prompted Morris to retire Ruthless with a career record of 7-4-0 from 11 starts and earnings of $11,000.
In 1876, Ruthless met a sad demise under shadowy circumstances. While grazing in her paddock on an autumn afternoon, she was struck by a rifle shot from a possible vagrant or poacher whose intentions were never known. The shooter fled the scene and was never identified. Ruthless lingered for five weeks before dying. She was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1975.
The Banshee (Aug. 5, 1868)
A torrential rain saturated Saratoga Race Course the night before the fifth edition of the Travers Stakes, but the track was reported as being “in admirable order for going,” by the New York Times on the day of the race. The proceedings were said to be contested “under the most brilliant auspices … with the sun’s ardent rays partially obscured by light clouds.”
The scene was picturesque, as was the appearance of John M. Clay’s filly, The Banshee, described as “a magnificent-looking bay” by the Times. After one false start, the Travers field got away clean with Lost Cause breaking alertly and taking the early lead with The Banshee settling into third behind Boaster. It didn’t take long for Lost Cause to live up to her name, as she quickly faded from contention. The contest turned into a twohorse race as The Banshee crept up alongside Boaster.
At the quarter-pole, the two were on even terms, well clear of the others. The Times reported “a fine struggle” between The Banshee and Boaster. At the finish it was The Banshee prevailing “cleverly by a neck,” according to the Times.
For the fourth time in its five runnings, the Travers had been won by a son or daughter of Lexington. The Banshee won the 2¼-mile Westchester Cup at Jerome Park by five lengths as a 4-year-old in June of 1869 for her final career victory.
Sultana (July 25, 1876)
August Belmont planned to enter four of his best horses — three colts and the outstanding filly Sultana — in the 1876 Travers. The deck appeared to be stacked, prompting the New York Times to comment, “The repeated victories of the Belmont stable discouraged any attempt at enthusiasm over a race in which were engaged the triumphant quartet.”
When it was announced the day before the Travers that Sultana would be Belmont’s only starter “there was some hope that a close race would be witnessed,” said the Times.
A bay daughter of Lexington out of the Glencoe mare Mildred, Sultana established herself as the premier 3-year-old filly of 1876, winning both the Maryland and Ladies’ stakes at Jerome Park prior to the Travers.
Barricade, owned by Pierre Lorillard, was expected to be the main competition for Sultana in the Travers. It took five attempts to get a clean start to the race. Once the journey began, Ambush and Fredericktown rushed to the lead, three lengths ahead of Sultana and Barricade. Midway through the race, Barricade shot to the front and opened up by four lengths on Sultana. Fredericktown and Ambush quickly became non-factors.
Sultana, meanwhile, proceeded to methodically cut into Barricade’s lead and the two were on even terms entering the homestretch. Sultana assumed the lead in the final furlong, but Barricade refused to go quietly. In the end, however, the filly was simply better. Sultana crossed the wire one length in front to give Belmont his second win in the Travers. The unimpressive time of 3:15½ was a full nine seconds slower than D’Artagnan’s record-setting victory the year before.
Liza (July 27, 1895)
The 1895 renewal of the Travers had the infamous distinction of featuring the smallest purse ever awarded to the winner at $1,125. That winner was Liza, a daughter of French stallion Rayon d’Or, and the fifth filly to win the race. She was also the second Travers winner for owner Pierre Lorillard, who also won with Attila in 1874.
Liza arrived at Saratoga for the 1895 meeting following a spring victory in the Swift Stakes at Sheepshead Bay. At Saratoga, she won a $500 sweepstakes on opening day and did the same for $400 three days later. Ridden by Hall of Famer Henry Griffin in the Travers, Liza defeated Rey Del Carreres by 1½ lengths. She covered the 1⅛-mile distance in 1:55½. The Travers was Liza’s final victory of the year, although she started several more times at Saratoga and Coney Island to complete her campaign. Overall, she won or placed in 14 of her 26 career starts.
Ada Nay (Aug. 8, 1903)
Ada Nay was a durable filly, making 14 starts as a 2-year-old in 1902. She won a purse race worth $600 at 5½ furlongs in her second appearance at Saratoga that summer. Returning to the Spa as a sophomore, Ada Nay finished fourth to Stamping Ground in the Alabama Stakes on the turf.
Four days later, Ada Nay’s form had significantly improved as she contested the Travers against six foes. She broke on top and remained in front all the way, winning by six lengths. The chart described it as “only a gallop for the winner.”
“The victory of J. B. Haggin’s filly Ada Nay was anticipated by some shrewd turfmen in spite of the fact that popular opinion, based on public form, sent J. R. Keene’s colt Gimcrack to the post favorite at 8 to 5,” the Times said. “Ada Nay broke first and went on with the track, winning from end to end.”
Three days after the Travers, Ada Nay won a six-furlong handicap event before going unplaced in two more starts at the Spa. As a 4-year-old in 1904, she finished fourth in two handicap races at Saratoga. Ada Nay posted a career record of 6-2-7 from 31 starts.
Lady Rotha (Aug. 7, 1915)
Trial by Jury hit the wire six lengths clear of Lady Rotha in the 46th Travers, but the colt was disqualified and the filly was declared the winner. The start of the race was marked by the outside horse, named Saratoga, crossing over and colliding with Trial by Jury, who then made contact with Lady Rotha, forcing her to take up sharply. The disqualification was not a popular decision.
“To the utter astonishment of the big crowd present a protest was lodged against the winner and he was disqualified. Lady Rotha, which finished second, got the race, while Saratoga, the colt, whose rider, Turner, was thought to be responsible for the mix-up, was moved up to second place,” the New York Times reported. “There had been some crowding right in front of the stand when the horses were racing through the first quarter, but it was generally thought that Trial by Jury, which was in very close quarters in the middle of the closely packed horses, was not responsible for the jostling, while Saratoga, which was on the outside, had his neck bent like a crescent as Turner was pulling him over against the other horses.
“In the crush, Trial by Jury was forced over against Lady Rotha, which was bumped out of her stride while (Trial by Jury) shot out of the crowd. Trial by Jury then raced clear of the others … Lady Rotha finishing second, a length before Saratoga.”
Lady Rotha also won the Amsterdam at Saratoga that summer, finished second in the Alabama, and third in the Saranac. She finished her career with a record of 23-15-14 from 74 starts.
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About the Author:
Brien Bouyea is the Hall of Fame and Communications Director at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs, New York. He is also the author of Bare Knuckles and Saratoga Racing: The Remarkable Life of John Morrissey and co-author of The Travers: 150 Years of Saratoga’s Greatest Race.
