Travers Stakes and Saratoga Picks:
Travers Day is upon us from Saratoga! Not only is this one of the most anticipated races of the year, the entire card features stars in the sport with five Grade 1 races. I’m excited to see Vahva take to the track in the Ballerina and the battle of the Euros with Measured Time and Silver Knott battle it out in the Sword Dancer! Let’s look at today’s Saratoga picks.
The Travers Stakes, Saratoga, Race #13
The gang is back together for the mid-summer derby with a couple of major additions. The first is the filly, #1 Thorpedo Anna, who accomplished everything she could against her fellow fillies, so it is time to take a shot at the boys. Numbers-wise, she comes up a little short, but that is not entirely fair to her. She has yet to have to try in any race she has won, just stomping her competition, and she has been more visually impressive than any of the boys in this race. The added distance should not be an issue, and she seems to run her race every time. My biggest knock on her would be how the race sets up. From the one post, she’s got to get early position and go in what should be a very hot pace.
Another newcomer is #4 Corporate Power, who enters off a second-place finish in the Curlin. He needs to improve to win, but he projects to sit the perfect trip in this spot. He is the only horse in the field who wants to stake the pace and will get first run on the pack of five horses that want to be up front in this race. The price is right as well at 15-1.
#8 Fierceness will be part of that hot pace breaking from the outside. His positioning early will be key with #7 Dornoch on his inside.
They also have to deal with #3 Unmatched Wisdom, who will send from the start. If any of the three get loose, they can win. I just do not see a world where that happens.
All this pace sets up well for #2 Sierra Leone who will be rolling late. He has yet to win the big one, but today is his best shot with the pace set up. Keep an eye on the track. You could not close on Belmont Day, but it has been treating closers well this week.
Saratoga Picks: 4-2-1-8
Bets: $50 Win #4
H Allen Jerkins, Saratoga, Race #12
This is one of the most fascinating races on the card today, with three-year-olds going seven furlongs. #8 Book’em Danno will be one of the favorites after scoring back-to-back wins, including a Grade 1 over the Saratoga dirt at this distance.
He beat #5 Prince of Monaco that day, with both of them closing from off the pace. Book’em Danno should get a similar trip today with plenty of pace signed on. Prince of Monaco broke poorly in that race and made a monster move, but that was almost to his benefit since he did not get caught up in the pace early. I expect him to be much closer today.
#2 Speak Easy is stepping up to stakes company for the first time today, but has shown he’s got all the talent in the world in just two starts. He beat a highly hyped horse on debut and then dusted a field of older horses despite a poor trip last time out. The question is if this is too soon for this level, but the talent is there and the price should be as well. He’s 8-1 on the morning line.
#1 World Record is an absolute speed ball who will break from the rail. That can always be dangerous in races like this. There is other speed signed on, but he looks to be the fastest early so if he can clear from that inside post, watch out.
Saratoga Picks: 8-2-5-1
Bets: $50 Win #8
Spot Plays:
Saratoga Race #11 – $50 Win #8
Saratoga Race #10 – $50 Exacta 3-5
