The Grade I, $1.25 million Travers Stakes is always a hotly-anticipated race, and this year is no different. A deep field of eight has assembled for the 1 1/4-mile classic at Saratoga this Saturday, including Kentucky Oaks winner Thorpedo Anna.
Can the filly beat the boys — including Belmont Stakes victor Dornoch — and improve her stock in the Breeders' Cup odds? Don't miss my free betting picks for August 24.
Travers Stakes odds, prediction and best bet
- Race: Saratoga Race 13
- Post time: 6:10 p.m. ET
- TV: FOX
| Post | Horse | Track odds |  |
 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thorpedo Anna | 3-1 | +300 | +300 |
| 2 | Sierra Leone | 7-2 | +350 | +333 |
| 3 | Unmatched Wisdom | 8-1 | +800 | +1,000 |
| 4 | Corporate Power | 15-1 | +1,500 | +2,000 |
| 5 | Batten Down | 20-1 | +2,000 | +1,600 |
| 6 | Honor Marie | 20-1 | +2,000 | +1,600 |
| 7 | Dornoch | 5-2 | +250 | +400 |
| 8 | Fierceness | 3-1 | +300 | +333 |
Odds as of 8-22-2024.
No. 1 Thorpedo Anna (3-1) can beat the boys with the right trip in the Travers.
There's a good deal of speed signed on in this field, with Dornoch and Fierceness likely looking to cross over from the outside. Then there's Unmatched Wisdom — who wired the field in the Curlin Stakes last time out — and Batten Down, who went gate-to-wire in the Ohio Derby two starts ago.
While Thorpedo Anna can be classified as a "stalker," and therefore drawn poorly at the rail, I believe Brian Hernandez Jr. will not send hard from this post and be content to set up shop a few lengths back in fourth or fifth. To try and make the lead, or even second or third, might be a suicide mission. And as we saw in the Kentucky Derby with Mystik Dan, Hernandez has no qualms about riding the rail and risking a traffic jam in a big race.
Then there's her accomplishments. Thorpedo Anna has won four consecutive graded stakes around two turns — including three of the most prestigious Grade Is for three-year-old fillies in the country in the Kentucky Oaks, Acorn, and CCA Oaks. The latter two were held at Saratoga, so we know she can handle this course.
Thorpedo Anna simply has nothing left to prove vs. females after winning her last four races by four or more lengths, so now is a perfect time to try her luck vs. the boys. If she falters, wheeling back in the Breeders' Cup Distaff is a solid Plan B, but I think she'll pass this test with flying colors as this three-year-old crop of colts is one of the weakest I can recall. Even if this bunch was a strong one, the Ken McPeek trainee might still be up to the 1 1/4-mile task.
No. 6 Honor Marie (20-1) stands to benefit from a pace meltdown, as would No. 2 Sierra Leone (7-2), but the former will probably be five times the price at post time or better and play even longer than that in the exotics.
Honor Marie was second in the Grade II Risen Star before running out of the money in both the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes, but this son of Honor Code finished with late interest each time despite incurring some bumps throughout both Triple Crown races. A smooth voyage would help his cause, and the addition of blinkers could prevent him from falling too far back early. The jockey switch to Tyler Gaffalione also appeals.
Sierra Leone had every opportunity to run down Fierceness in the Grade II Jim Dandy last time out and simply couldn't get by. I'll refrain from betting this son of Gun Runner on top until he wins again, but I can't dismiss him entirely due to the favorable setup he should get under Flavien Prat.
Best bet: $10 exacta 1/2,6, $4 win 6 ($24)
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Road to the Breeders’ Cup Classic
| Race | Date | Track | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky Derby | May 4 | Churchill Downs | Mystik Dan |
| Preakness Stakes | May 18 | Pimlico | Seize the Grey |
| Belmont Stakes | June 8 | Saratoga | Dornoch |
| Metropolitan Handicap | June 8 | Saratoga | National Treasure |
| Stephen Foster Stakes* | June 29 | Churchill Downs | Kingsbarns |
| Haskell Stakes* | July 20 | Monmouth Park | Dornoch |
| Whitney Stakes* | August 3 | Saratoga | Arthur's Ride |
| Juddmonte International Stakes (turf)* | August 21 | York (UK) | City of Troy |
| Travers Stakes | August 24 | Saratoga | TBD |
| Pacific Classic* | August 31 | Del Mar | TBD |
| Jockey Club Gold Cup* | September 1 | Saratoga | TBD |
| Pennsylvania Derby | September 21 | Parx | TBD |
| California Crown* | September 28 | Santa Anita Park | TBD |
| Lukas Classic | September 28 | Churchill Downs | TBD |
*denotes "Win & You're In" race for Breeders' Cup Classic
Not intended for use in MA.
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