ELMONT, NEW YORK – JUNE 05: Important High quality with Luis Saez up wins the 153rd operating of the … [+]
The 152nd operating of the Travers got here up brief in entries for the second straight yr. Final yr the heavy favourite Tiz the Regulation gained the ‘Midsummer Derby’ simply over six rivals on his technique to champion 3-year-old male honors. Now the season’s prime 3-year-old, Essential Quality is on a really related path having additionally gained the Belmont Stakes.
Important High quality is the dominant favourite Saturday at Saratoga for the $1.25 million Travers. His opening odds are 4/5, and Important High quality will more likely to enter the beginning gate nearer to 1/2 odds like Tiz the Regulation did final yr.
Important High quality has gained 7-of-8 starts together with 4-for-5 this yr along with his solely defeat in a troubled journey on the Kentucky Derby. The Brad Cox-trained son of Tapit shall be robust to beat, however we’ve seen different heavy favorites come up brief within the Travers together with 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, who was upset and completed second.
Actually, Tiz the Regulation is the one favourite to win the Travers within the final eight editions, and solely three of these submit time favorites have hit the board to complete in-the-money.
Travers Day Races at Saratoga
Reside protection of all of the races on Saturday, Aug. 28 at Saratoga could be streamed live on TVG. The 1 1/4 mile Runhappy Travers Stakes is Race 12 at 6:12 p.m. ET at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, NY. The Travers will anchor a 90 minute reside nationwide TV broadcast on FOX beginning at 5:00 p.m. ET.
Together with the $1.25 million Grade 1 Travers, there are 5 different Grade 1 races and one Grade 2.
- Race 12: Travers (G1) $1.25 million – 1 1/4 miles
- Race 11: Sword Dancer (G1) $1,000,000 – 1 1/2 miles on turf
- Race 10: Private Ensign (G1) $700,000 – 1 1/8 miles
- Race 9: H. Allen Jerkens Memorial (G1) $500,000 – 7 furlongs
- Race 8: Forego (G1) $600,000 – 7 furlongs
- Race 7: Ketel One Ballerina (G1) $500,000 – 7 furlongs
- Race 4: Woodford Reserve Ballston Spa (G2) $400,000 – 1 1/16 miles on turf
Forward of Travers Day is “Friday’s New York Showcase Day” with six stakes reserved solely for New York-breds headlined by the $250,000 Albany.
Final yr’s Travers winner was New York-bred Tiz the Regulation. Followers at Saratoga Friday can have the chance to have a commemorative posted of Tiz the Regulation signed by proprietor Jack Knowlton of Sackatoga Stables, coach Barclay Tagg and jockey Manny Franco.
The 2021 Travers Stakes Discipline and Opening Odds
The video replay of the $600,000 Grade 2 Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga exhibits Important High quality grinding out a really shut win from off the tempo over Keepmeinmind within the July 31 prep race for the Travers. Ohio Derby winner Masqueparade completed third after racing up shut, and people three will face stronger challengers within the Travers.
Profiles for Revenue and Successful the Travers
Document-breaking coach and all-time wins chief Steve Asmussen has by no means gained the Travers, however he’ll ship Midnight Bourbon to submit for his fourth straight Grade 1 begin. His greatest end was 2nd within the Preakness, and he’s by no means hit a pace determine (Equibase) of 100 in a race.
That’s telling, together with the pretty weak Travers subject, as solely Important High quality and Keepmeinmind posted a 105 or larger pace determine of their final race. Of the final 12 Travers winners, 11 recorded an Equibase Pace Determine (ESF) of 105 or extra within the race previous to the Travers.
Todd Pletcher-trained Dynamic One is improved and was very sharp off a layoff final month when posting a 102 pace determine to win the minor Curlin Stakes. However that was over a Saratoga floor rated good, and never quick. Dynamic One has stamina and power as a son of Union Rages, and he got here from the again of the pack to complete sturdy and edge away from very lightly-raced and bettering runner-up Miles D, who additionally tries extra floor within the Travers for coach Chad Brown. Miles D and King Fury each have expertise and extra potential as sons of the nice Curlin.
Forward of the Travers is a a lot stronger and aggressive subject for the $700,000 Private Ensign for older fillies and mares. It’s a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In’ qualifying race, and an achieved subject consists of 9 runners who’ve all gained a graded stakes race. That features the favourite Letruska, who shall be trying her fourth consecutive graded stakes rating. She has already secured her Breeders’ Cup Distaff spot with a dominating win at Belmont in June in one other “Win and You’re In’ race.
Breeders’ Cup Problem Collection Races
The Travers might draw essentially the most headlines and curiosity, however there are higher betting races on the large graded stakes card. That features three “Win and You’re In” Breeders’ Cup Problem Collection races that may ship the winner to the Breeders’ Cup if the horses connections settle for the fees-paid invitation to Del Mar Nov. 5-6 for this yr’s thirty eighth version of the World Championships.
- The Private Ensign – profitable mare features entry to the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff.
- The Ballerina – winner is invited to the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Dash
- The Sword Dancer – marathon winner will head to Del Mar for the $4 million Breeders’ Cup Turf.
As you bet on horse racing and think about you’re choices forward of the Travers, know there are large payoffs within the late Decide 3, Decide 4 and Decide 5 swimming pools. That’s the place you would possibly wish to embody Important High quality as a single in these horizontal bets, as Important High quality gained’t repay a win wager extra $3 on a $2 wager ought to he go off at 1/2 odds.
So think about included Dynamic One in your betting technique with leading jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. driving for prime coach Todd Pletcher. These two are a dynamic duo who may lead Dynamic One to a different upset at Saratoga – The Graveyard of Champions.
You’ll be able to wager on it.