The most exciting race day of Saratoga’s meet is right around the corner with the 153rd edition of the Travers Stakes. It’s the Midsummer Derby, going Saturday afternoon, Aug. 27th. At a distance of 1¼ miles, the Grade I, $1.25 million Travers annually attracts the best 3-year-olds in training, looking to join the list of greats who have won this race.
Here are some of the leading contenders and notable trends bettors should know before making their selection. By the way, William R. Travers was a co-founder of the track.
Travers Trends
The Travers Stakes at the Spa is one of the landmark North American races, as well as a ‘get ready’ event leading to November’s Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland. That’s been evident in any number of renewals attracting any number of Triple Crown-race winners.
The most famous edition of the Travers, at least recently, came in 2015. Saratoga’s ‘Graveyard of Favorites’ nickname was once again affirmed. It was the Triple Crown hero, American Pharoah, getting beaten by Keen Ice.
Some other important trends to consider before wagering on the Travers include…
- Seven of the previous 12 winners of the Travers participated in at least one Triple Crown race.
- Avoid the Haskell Stakes, as only two winners of that marquee Monmouth Park event have also raced in the Travers.
- Nine of the last 12 Travers winners have prepped for the race in New York.
- The last six winners also won their previous start.
- There’s just four winning favorites since 2010, though last season (Essential Quality) was the public choice.
The Revenge of Epicenter?
The likely favorite for the Travers is Epicenter, the son of Not This Time trained by Steven Asmussen. He was the favorite for the G1 Kentucky Derby after victories in the Risen Star and Louisiana Derby, both at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans. However, he was dramatically beaten to the wire by massive 80-1 longshot Rich Strike.
Things didn’t really improve in the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico in Baltimore, Epicenter finishing second again, this time to Early Voting. He finally returned to winning ways at the end of July with success in Saratoga’s Jim Dandy. He was a length-and-a-half clear of Zandon. Early Voting was last among the quartet. Ability that abounds, Epicenter has three wins and three seconds in six starts this season, earnings in excess of $2.1 million. Winning the Travers assuages disappointment of those Triple Crown events,
According to Breeders’ Cup odds by BetUs Sportsbook, Epicenter’s 15-1 (+1500) current proposition is the shortest price among 3-year-olds to win the Classic.
Cyberknife Via Haskell Win
As was mentioned in the trends, the Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park on the Jersey shore hasn’t been the best prep for the Travers. Only two winners have come through that route. Cyberknife will be looking to buck that trend. This Gun Runner colt, trained by Brad Cox, emerged as a somewhat late contender for the Kentucky Derby by virtue of winning the Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn.
Cyberknife finished 18th at Churchill Downs in an extremely poor effort. He did bounce back excellently with a victory in the Matt Winn, also at Churchill. It was the win in the Haskell that ranks as a highlight, out finishing Taiba and the supremely-quick Jack Christopher (the latter a rock-solid sprinter trying a bit longer).
Ridden by Florent Geroux, Cyberknife has won four-of-six starts and more than $1.5 million this season.
Rich Strike Redux?
Regardless of what happens between now and the end of his career, Rich Strike’s improbable Kentucky Derby stunner gets remembered for generations to come. The son of Keen Ice (there’s that name again) was a literal last-minute entrant, then jockey Sonny Leon delivered a ride of a lifetime for a 80-1 bombs away at Churchill Downs.
That was a bolt from the blue after Rich Strike failed to win the Jeff Ruby and John Battaglia Memorial, both at Turfway. He won’t go off that big a price on the odds board again, though finishing sixth in the Belmont Stakes probably did not gain him, new supporters, at the windows.
Trained by Eric Reed, Rich Strike has that lone win in five 2022 tries, with over $1.9 million on account.
Some Other Potential Contenders
Of the other probable runners that could be in contention, perhaps it’s time for Zandon. Trainer Chad Brown is as good as they come, but the fact Zandon has been beaten by Epicenter twice already this season is not promising,
Then, there’s Charge It, for always-lethal trainer Todd Pletcher. He still remains a horse of interest, having finished second in Gulfstream’s Florida Derby back in April. He was disappointed in the Kentucky Derby, finishing 17th. He did annex the Dwyer Stakes at Belmont. Others to consider may include Skippylongstocking and Artorius, both with stakes wins over a mile-and-an-eighth this season.
Winners of The Travers?
Post-position draw (set for Wednesday, Aug. 24th) should be studied before making a bet on the Travers Stakes. Epicenter is going in as the best horse in the race. He was solid in the Spa’s Jim Dandy last out. Do not discount Cyberknife’s run in the Haskell Stakes, as he defeated a field that had quality through it.