The main target of the horse racing world zeroes in on Saratoga Race Course Aug. 24 for the 155th working of the DraftKings Travers Stakes. The 1 ¼-mile Travers, referred to as the “Mid-Summer season Derby,” is probably the most prestigious race for 3-year-olds exterior of the Triple Crown races in late spring and infrequently is essential in figuring out the year-end champion in that division.
The Travers ought to have important influence on the 3-year-old standings this yr since there have been three completely different winners of the Triple Crown occasions. Considered one of them – Belmont Stakes victor Dornoch – will likely be competing within the Travers. What’s extra, the very best 3-year-old filly in coaching, Thorpedo Anna, was entered within the Travers in an try to change into the primary feminine to win the race since 1915.
General, Saturday’s Travers drew a high-quality, aggressive discipline of eight starters competing for a hefty $1.25 million purse and the fitting to inscribe their title within the sport’s historical past. Notable Travers winners from years previous embody Kentucky (1864), Ruthless (1867), Duke of Magenta (1878), Hindoo (1881), Henry of Navarre (1894), Broomstick (1904), Roamer (1914), Man o’ Battle (1920), Twenty Grand (1931), Granville (1936), Whirlaway (1941), Native Dancer (1953), Gallant Man (1957), Sword Dancer (1959), Buckpasser (1966), Damascus (1967), Arts and Letters (1969), Alydar (1978), Temperence Hill (1980), Forty Niner (1988), Straightforward Goer (1989), Holy Bull (1994), Thunder Gulch (1995), Level Given (2001), Medaglia d’Oro (2002), Bernardini (2006), Road Sense (2007), Arrogate (2016), Important High quality (2021), and Arcangelo (2023).
The 155th Travers will likely be broadcast nationwide on FOX throughout NYRA’s “Saratoga Saturdays” present airing from 3 to six:30 p.m. ET. Submit time is about for six:10 p.m.
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Learn on for details about the Travers Stakes contenders:
1. Thorpedo Anna (3-1 morning-line odds)
Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr.
Coach: Ken McPeek
Homeowners: Brookdale Racing, Mark Edwards, Judy Hicks, and Magdalena Racing
Profession file: 7 begins – 6 wins – 1 second – 0 third
Profession earnings: $1,980,663
Earnings per begin: $282,952
High Equibase Pace Determine: 105
Pedigree: Quick Anna – Sataves, by Uncle Mo
Colour: Darkish bay or brown
Working model: Press the tempo
Notable achievements and attention-grabbing details: Ken McPeek’s determination to bypass the Aug. 17, 1 ¼-mile Alabama Stakes Offered by Keeneland Gross sales along with his star filly Thorpedo Anna and as a substitute level her to the Travers elevated this yr’s 155th working into a very must-see occasion for sports activities followers. Seven fillies have received this prestigious race, however none since Girl Rotha in 1915, and a filly hasn’t began within the Travers since Marvel Gadot completed final of 10 in 2018. If any 3-year-old filly from the previous decade or so might be as much as the duty, Thorpedo Anna qualifies. She at the moment exists in one other stratosphere in contrast along with her divisional rivals, having received all 4 of her begins in 2024 by a mixed margin of 18 ¾ lengths. The final three of these wins have all come at a distance of 1 1/8 miles – the Longines Kentucky Oaks on Might 3, the DK Horse Acorn Stakes on June 7, and the Teaching Membership American Oaks on July 20. The latter two races have been run on Saratoga’s filth monitor, a floor Thorpedo Anna appeared to relish much more than the filth on her house monitor, Churchill Downs. With that mentioned, this filly has a pedigree that’s suspect at longer distances, and her velocity figures should not superior to these of her essential rivals within the Travers. There’s little question this Travers discipline shapes up because the hardest that McPeek’s described “grizzly” will face to this point in her profession, however arguably no 3-year-old of 2024, not even Dornoch and Fierceness, has proven such dazzling cruising velocity on the monitor. Search for common jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. to be aggressive out of the gate having drawn the within submit place and attempt to safe a superb ahead spot with Thorpedo Anna – not essentially on the lead – whereas this filly’s essential velocity rivals Dornoch and Fierceness try to get out fast and transfer over from their exterior posts. Travers historical past: McPeek memorably received the 2012 Travers with 33.50-1 longshot Golden Ticket, who shared honors with Alpha after the pair completed in a lifeless warmth for first.
Wager Thorpedo Anna within the Travers Stakes
2. Sierra Leone (7-2)
Jockey: Flavien Prat
Coach: Chad Brown
Homeowners: Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg, Rocket Ship Racing, and Peter Brant
Profession file: 7 begins – 3 wins – 3 seconds – 1 third
Profession earnings: $2,218,000
Earnings per begin: $316,857
High Equibase Pace Determine: 109
Pedigree: Gun Runner – Heavenly Love, by Malibu Moon
Colour: Darkish bay or brown
Working model: Nearer
Notable achievements and attention-grabbing details: After rising as a top-tier member of the division via the winter months of 2023-’24 after which constructing upon that fame with two spectacular wins in Kentucky Derby Offered by Woodford Reserve preps, Sierra Leone has come up brief in three consecutive marquee races and enters the Travers as one thing of an enigma. The expertise first hinted at when he was purchased for $2.3 million as a yearling by a number of of his house owners is unquestionable, however maturity and focus points have stored him from ending off his races over the spring and summer time. Within the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes, Sierra Leone continued to show a behavior to float within the stretch run – notably egregious within the Derby – and he completed second (by a nostril) and third in these respective races. The Gun Runner colt appeared to have solved that situation in his lead-in race to the Travers, as he settled again early after which got here working with a rail transfer to complete a size behind Fierceness within the 1 1/8-mile Jim Dandy Stakes Offered by Mohegan Solar July 27 at Saratoga. Nonetheless, Sierra Leone was the 4-5 favourite within the Jim Dandy and got here up brief, and it is going to be attention-grabbing to see what his post-time odds are in opposition to a extremely achieved Travers discipline after three straight “shut however no cigar” efforts. There’s little question that his Equibase Pace Figures and stamina-rich pedigree make him a contender on this race – the questions concern his tendency to seek out hassle throughout his races and whether or not a swift tempo will materialize to assist him. A must-use in all exacta and trifecta tickets. Travers historical past: Michael Tabor from the Coolmore group received the 1995 Travers with Thunder Gulch, and Tabor, Derrick Smith, and Susan Magnier co-owned 2018 runner-up Mendelssohn. Coach Chad Brown’s greatest end from 15 Travers starters is a pair of thirds with Miles D (2021) and Zandon (2022). Jockey Flavien Prat has completed third twice (2021, 2022) in three Travers appearances.
Wager Sierra Leone within the Travers Stakes
3. Unmatched Knowledge (8-1)
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.
Coach: Chad Brown
Proprietor: Klaravich Stables
Profession file: 3 begins – 3 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Profession earnings: $178,750
Earnings per begin: $59,583
High Equibase Pace Determine: 107
Pedigree: Cairo Prince – Glide On By, by Pure Prize
Colour: Darkish bay or brown
Working model: Pacesetter/press the tempo
Notable achievements and attention-grabbing details: Right here’s the wild-card Travers Stakes contender: a colt who enters the “Mid-Summer season Derby” unbeaten in three profession begins with ascending velocity figures and racing for extremely profitable connections. Unmatched Knowledge debuted on Might 1 in the course of the Belmont on the Large A (Aqueduct) meet in a one-turn mile race and romped by 6 ¼ lengths on a muddy monitor, then adopted that with a dominant 5 ¾-length rating when stretched out to 2 turns in a 1 1/8-mile allowance-optional claiming race on the identical monitor on June 22. The Cairo Prince colt then was entered within the 1 1/8-mile Curlin Stakes July 19 at Saratoga, and led at each level of name en path to a one-length win over Company Energy. In his first two races, Unmatched Knowledge settled simply off of the early tempo and took over at will on jockey Flavien Prat’s cue, however within the Curlin he was aggressively dealt with by Prat after breaking from the within submit and was in entrance of the sphere earlier than reaching the primary flip. Prat will experience Sierra Leone within the Travers, and reigning Eclipse Award-winning jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. will experience Unmatched Knowledge. Search for Ortiz to induce his mount to contest the lead early with velocity drawn to his inside (Thorpedo Anna) and out of doors (Dornoch and Fierceness). It’s a tricky ask for this contender to increase his unblemished race file in a stacked version of the Travers Stakes, however securing a minor award is actually doable. Travers historical past: Chad Brown completed third within the Travers in 2021 with Miles D and in 2022 with Zandon, his greatest finishes from 15 Travers starters. Fellow Saratoga standout Irad Ortiz likewise is searching for his first Travers win, having completed fourth twice in 12 prior appearances.
Wager Unmatched Knowledge within the Travers Stakes
4. Company Energy (15-1)
Jockey: Javier Castellano
Coach: Shug McGaughey
Proprietor: Courtlandt Farms
Profession file: 5 begins – 2 wins – 2 seconds – 0 thirds
Profession earnings: $148,200
Earnings per begin: $29,640
High Equibase Pace Determine: 105
Pedigree: Curlin – Highway to Victory, by High quality Highway
Colour: Bay
Working model: Stalker
Notable achievements and attention-grabbing details: This colt, a $925,000 buy by proprietor Courtlandt Farm as a yearling, has posted velocity figures which can be aggressive with the remainder of the Travers discipline however lacks a marquee win up to now via 5 profession begins. Company Energy enters off of a runner-up end by a size to Travers foe Unmatched Knowledge within the 1 1/8-mile Curlin Stakes July 19 at Saratoga, the place he stalked in second for a lot of the race behind that pacesetter and had his bid for the lead rebuffed popping out of the far flip. In his begin earlier than that, he fought onerous to rally within the stretch at Pimlico and win the 1 1/16-mile Sir Barton Stakes Sponsored by Brandon and Diannah Perry to Profit TAA by a nostril over Gould’s Gold. Company Energy leaned into one other rival within the stretch however recovered to tally his first stakes win within the Sir Barton, and he earned a 103 Equibase Pace Determine in that race, topped by a 105 within the Curlin Stakes. Corridor of Fame coach Shug McGaughey is famend for his endurance in growing top-class horses, so it’s an indication of confidence that he’s prepared to check this colt in opposition to heavy hitters akin to Dornoch, Fierceness, and Thorpedo Anna. Whereas he’s an outsider as a win candidate, this colt has a stalking working model that matches in nicely in opposition to the Travers discipline the place a number of horses together with the aforementioned trio ought to vie for the lead and guarantee a strong tempo. As such, Company Energy shapes up as a logical trifecta filler at what needs to be a strong value. Travers historical past: McGaughey has received the Travers 4 occasions, with the nice Straightforward Goer (1989), Rhythm (1990), Coronado’s Quest (1998), and Code of Honor (2019). Fellow Corridor of Famer Javier Castellano holds the all-time file in Travers wins with seven, coming aboard Bernardini (2006), Afleet Specific (2010), Keep Thirsty (2011), V. E. Day (2014), Eager Ice (2015), Catholic Boy (2018) and Arcangelo (2023).
Wager Company Energy within the Travers Stakes
5. Batten Down (20-1)
Jockey: Junior Alvarado
Coach: Invoice Mott
Proprietor: Juddmonte
Profession file: 6 begins – 2 wins – 1 second – 2 thirds
Profession earnings: $454,850
Earnings per begin: $75,808
High Equibase Pace Determine: 98
Pedigree: Tapit – Shut Hatches, by First Defence
Colour: Grey or roan
Working model: Pacesetter/press the tempo
Notable achievements and attention-grabbing details: This Juddmonte homebred from an elite household enters the Travers off of an honest third-place end in Saratoga’s native prep, the 1 1/8-mile Jim Dandy Stakes Offered by Mohegan Solar, on July 27. He stalked the early tempo set by longshot Pony Specific adopted by Fierceness and briefly appeared prepared to have interaction Fierceness for the lead via the far flip after that horse took over. Batten Down’s rally stalled and he was no match for eventual winner Fierceness and for late-closing runner-up Sierra Leone, ending 6 ¾ lengths out of first, however he was 5 ¼ lengths away from the fourth-place horse, Preakness Stakes winner Seize the Gray. Batten Down should now face each Fierceness and Sierra Leone once more within the Travers, together with a number of different high-quality horses, and he’ll must run a career-best race to have an opportunity at scoring the upset. There’s untapped potential with this colt, nevertheless, based mostly on his two sharp wins earlier this yr, together with a front-running Ohio Derby victory, alongside along with his stamina-rich pedigree. Batten Down’s dam, Shut Hatches, received the Eclipse Award as champion older feminine in 2014, earned greater than $2.7 million in her profession, and has additionally produced $4.2 million earner Tacitus (second within the 2019 Belmont) and present graded stakes-winning filly Scylla, each additionally sired by Tapit. Travers historical past: Proprietor-breeder Juddmonte received the 2016 Travers with monitor record-setter Arrogate. Corridor of Fame coach Invoice Mott has completed second on this race thrice, most just lately with Tacitus. Jockey Junior Alvarado’s greatest Travers end in 5 begins got here in his 2013 debut, a 3rd.
Wager Batten Down within the Travers Stakes
6. Honor Marie (20-1)
Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione
Coach: Whit Beckman
Homeowners: Ribble Farms, Michael Eiserman, Earl Silver, Kenneth Fishbein, and Dave Fishbein
Profession file: 7 begins – 2 wins – 2 seconds – 0 thirds
Profession earnings: $626,175
Earnings per begin: $89,454
High Equibase Pace Determine: 98
Pedigree: Honor Code – Dame Marie, by Sensible Strike
Colour: Bay
Working model: Nearer
Notable achievements and attention-grabbing details: This deep nearer might get a good tempo setup within the Travers Stakes that has a number of velocity horses entered, however he’ll nonetheless must summon a career-best effort to have any likelihood at pulling the upset. Honor Marie returns after a 2 ½-month break as he was final seen grinding his strategy to a fourth-place end behind Dornoch within the Belmont Stakes June 6. The Belmont was held at Saratoga and at 1 ¼ miles for 2024 whereas host monitor Belmont Park continues with a reconstruction mission, and Honor Marie confirmed sufficient in that race (the place he was bumped early after which once more within the stretch) to warrant consideration as a longshot trifecta filler come Saturday. Previous to the Belmont, Honor Marie once more made up floor late after a really tough begin to end eighth within the Kentucky Derby Offered by Woodford Reserve, which adopted an excellent runner-up effort to fellow late runner Sierra Leone within the 1 3/16-mile Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby. He’s acquired sufficient stamina in his pedigree to deal with a mile and 1 / 4, however might want to enhance his greatest profession Equibase Pace Determine (twice incomes a 98) by about 10 factors to be an element. Search for first-time rider Tyler Gaffalione to attempt to keep away from early hassle in any respect prices and settle Honor Marie in a superb place … after which to hope for a quick early tempo to arrange his rally. The colt will put on blinkers for first time within the Travers to hopefully enhance his focus as he kicks into late gear. Travers historical past: Honor Marie’s house owners, coach, and jockey are all searching for their first wins on this prestigious race.
Wager Honor Marie within the Travers Stakes
7. Dornoch (5-2)
Jockey: Luis Saez
Coach: Danny Gargan
Homeowners: West Paces Racing, R. A. Hill Steady, Belmar Racing and Breeding, Two Eight Racing, and Pine Racing Stables
Profession file: 9 begins – 5 wins – 2 seconds – 0 thirds
Profession earnings: $2,352,275
Earnings per begin: $261,364
High Equibase Pace Determine: 107
Pedigree: Good Magic – Puca, by Large Brown
Colour: Bay
Working model: Pacesetter/press the tempo
Notable achievements and attention-grabbing details: If Dornoch can add a win within the Travers Stakes to his pair of top-level triumphs from earlier this summer time, he would be the heavy favourite to obtain the Eclipse Award as champion 3-year-old male of 2024 heading into Breeders’ Cup season. This well-bred colt, who was a number one Kentucky Derby Offered by Woodford Reserve future-book contender over the winter, appeared to have plateaued in the course of the spring with a few off-the board finishes within the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes and the Kentucky Derby itself, during which he drew the dreaded rail submit place. Dornoch has since rebounded to submit valiant wins within the June 8 Belmont Stakes and the July 20 NYRA Bets Haskell Stakes. In each of these races, Dornoch vied for the lead from the outset, shook off his tempo foe, after which discovered extra within the stretch to carry off late challengers. He earned Equibase Pace Figures of 106 and 107 within the Belmont Stakes and Haskell Stakes, respectively, and his Belmont win is particularly noteworthy because it got here on the distance of 1 ¼ miles and on Saratoga’s filth monitor – the precise circumstances he’ll face within the Travers. If there may be one concern about his return to the Spa Saturday, it’s that there are no less than three Travers opponents who additionally do their greatest working on or very near the early lead in Fierceness, Thorpedo Anna, and Unmatched Knowledge, so there stands a risk that Dornoch might be compelled expend extra power within the early phases of the Travers than he did in his two current wins. That being mentioned, he’s already established as one of many hardest opponents of his age group – perhaps the hardest – and it could be a shock to see him anyplace aside from within the high two or three horses coming into the Travers homestretch. A essential win candidate. Travers historical past: Luis Saez has tallied two Travers wins in seven begins, with Will Take Cost in his 2013 debut, after which in his most up-to-date begin aboard Important High quality in 2021.
Wager Dornoch within the Travers Stakes
8. Fierceness (3-1)
Jockey: John Velazquez
Coach: Todd Pletcher
Proprietor: Repole Steady
Profession file: 7 begins – 4 wins – 0 seconds – 1 third
Profession earnings: $1,978,850
Earnings per begin: $282,693
High Equibase Pace Determine: 110
Pedigree: Metropolis of Gentle – Nonna Bella, by Keep Thirsty
Colour: Bay
Working model: Pacesetter/press the tempo
Notable achievements and attention-grabbing details: This supremely quick colt bounced again from a disappointing 15th-place end within the Kentucky Derby Offered by Woodford Reserve with a sport one-length win over Sierra Leone within the Jim Dandy Stakes Offered by Mohegan Solar July 27 at Saratoga. Fierceness raced near early pacesetting longshot Pony Specific in that 1 1/8-mile race, took over coming into the far flip, simply turned again a light bid by Batten Down, after which was stored to activity by common rider John Velazquez whereas drifting out within the stretch to prevail over rallying Sierra Leone. Within the Kentucky Derby, Fierceness had additionally raced near the early lead, however started to retreat after a mile and ended up 24 ½ lengths behind winner Mystik Dan and runner-up Sierra Leone because the post-time favourite. He’s alternated glorious begins with poor ones all through his profession, and exiting the Jim Dandy, that sample signifies {that a} subpar effort could also be forthcoming within the Travers. Then again, Fierceness’ three greatest Equibase Pace Figures (two 110s plus a 108 within the Jim Dandy) are higher than almost each different Travers opponent. One extra concern is Fierceness’ pedigree which, whereas superb, isn’t as stamina-rich because the bloodlines of foes akin to Dornoch and Sierra Leone. On the very least, Fierceness needs to be a tempo issue within the Travers, and if he can break the “good-bad” cycle Saturday we might see a joyous celebration by owner-breeder Mike Repole, his household, and mates within the Saratoga winner’s circle. Travers historical past: Repole received the Travers along with his first starter within the race, Keep Thirsty again in 2011. That colt was skilled by Todd Pletcher, and the Corridor of Famer additionally received the Travers with Flower Alley in 2005. Fellow Corridor of Fame member John Velazquez rode Flower Alley and picked up a second Travers win aboard Code of Honor in 2019.
Wager Fierceness within the Travers Stakes
