Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, August 22, 1993                   TAG: 9308220120
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: D12   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.                                LENGTH: Short

SEA HERO WINS TRAVERS STAKES

Returning to the form he displayed on the first Saturday in May, Sea Hero took the lead from Devoted Brass and Colonial Affair just inside the eighth pole and beat Kissin Kris by two lengths. Kissing Kris was a length ahead of Miner's Mark, who was a head in front of Colonial Affair.

"I couldn't be more delighted," said Paul Mellon, Sea Hero's 85-year-old owner who won his fifth Travers after having won his first Derby.

Jockey Jerry Bailey couldn't have been more delighted either. Besides being Sea Hero's regular rider, he also was the regular rider for Miner's Mark. Before the Jim Dandy on Aug. 1 at Saratoga, Bailey decided to stick with Sea Hero, Mellon and trainer Mack Miller.

"I'm just glad I stayed," said Bailey, who finished fourth on Sea Hero in the Jim Dandy, won by Miner's Mark.

Sea Hero, who faltered badly in the Preakness and Belmont, was the eighth Derby winner to appear in the 1 1/4-mile Travers since Shutout won the race in 1942.

Miller said he tried something new, changing the type of bit and shoes used by the colt.

"I said I'll try anything," Miller said. "We were desperate people."

While Bailey remained loyal to Sea Hero, he did admit "I was less confident before this race than before the Derby."

Sea Hero won in 2:01 4-5, which was 3-5 of a second faster than his winning time in the Derby. Both of the colt's victories in eight starts this year have been at 1 1/4 miles.

Keywords:
HORSE RACING