Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense put another notch in his saddle on Saturday, taking the Travers Stakes at Saratoga Race Course by half a length over Grasshopper and Helsinki.

Street Sense was the overwhelming 1-4 favorite, but Grasshopper made the event worthwhile by setting the pace and holding it until the final strides. Helsinki was a distant third, 10-1/4 lengths behind Grasshopper.

By winning both the Kentucky Derby and Saturday’s “Midsummer Derby,” Street Sense has to be considered one of the top threats for the Oct. 27 Breeders’ Cup Classic. But the style he used to overtake Grasshopper should pique the interest of horseplayers.

Instead of closing from well off the pace, as he did to win the Kentucky Derby, Street Sense stalked Grasshopper from third place behind C P West. A faster pace would have required a different strategy, but it’s still good to see some versatility heading into the Classic.