Saratoga Springs, NY (My Sportsbook) - Under threatening skies, Belmont Stakes winner Birdstone captured the 135the running of the $1 million Travers Stakes at Saratoga Race Course.

Birdstone hadn't raced since surging past Smarty Jones to capture the Belmont on June 5. The colt was sent off at 9-2 after being 3-1 in the morning line. He was one of three horses in the Travers trained by Nick Zito and gave the trainer his first Travers Stakes victory. Zito completed the exacta with The Cliff's Edge coming in second, 2 1/2 lengths behind the winner.

The rain held off just long enough for the seven three-year-olds to cover the 1 1/4 miles in 2:02.45. Finishing third was Eddington followed by morning-line favorite Purge, Zito's other entrant Sir Shackleton, Suave and early leader Lion Heart.

With this win Birdstone puts his name next to Smarty Jones at the top of the list of this year's three-year-olds. Should Birdstone continue to win big races, he has a chance to steal the three-year-old division championship from the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner.

The layoff of more than two months for Birdstone did not affect is performance as he became the sixth straight winner of the Travers to have finished in the top three of the Belmont Stakes. This win was worth $600,000 to owners Derrick Smith and Michael Tabor. Smith and Tabor were also the winning owners in the race just prior to the Travers in the King's Bishop.

Birdstone has now earned more than $1.2 million this year and $1.5 million in his career. Jockey Edgar Prado also recorded his first win in the Travers.

Birdstone returned $11.60, $5.70 and $4.00. The Cliff's Edge paid $3.90 and $3.00, and Eddington paid $4.30 for show.