It’s that time of year again in Saratoga Springs, New York as the Travers Stakes gets ready to take over Saratoga Racecourse this weekend. Sonny Leon’s Rich Strike, who won the Kentucky Derby this year at 80-1 odds, looks to capture his second win of the season at his first ever start at Saratoga Racecourse. However, he will face a great group of horses there, hoping to make it first across the line. As we do in every major stakes race we cover, here is your best bets guide to the Travers Stakes.

Epicenter

Epicenter has been the favorite in both of his triple crown races, the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, and finished in second on both outings. However, since then, he’s then much better, with a win in the G2 Jim Dandy on the last day of July this year. Epicenter has always been a go-to to bet on as he’s put up great times as well as races well in previous races like his first-place finishes in the Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds this past winter and in the Twinspires Grade 2 Louisiana Derby.

Epicenter’s most recent workout was at Saratoga this Monday running four furlongs in 50.03. Even though Epicenter has been beaten by Rich Strike and Early Voting, I’d be confident in my pick when placing a wager on Epicenter. However, if Epicenter hopes to race in the breeder’s cup this year at Keeneland Park this is a must-win race for him.

Early Voting

Preakness Stakes winner Early Voting looks to take his second grade one Stakes win and his third overall win out of five starts. Early Voting most recently raced in the G2 Jim Dandy Stakes, where he finished fourth behind Epicenter, Tawny Port, and Zandon. However, even though Early Voting had a bad finish in the Jim Dandy, the Chad Brown horse isn’t a competitor to rule out in this field of eight. Though a win is not a must when it comes to Early Voting, I’d like to see him either place or show. Early Voting’s last workout was last Saturday, where he ran five furlongs in 1:01.

Cyberknife

Cyberknife comes into the Travers in the first post position at 7/2 odds. The Brad Cox trainee had an impressive victory at the TVG.Com Haskell Stakes in Monmouth Park, New Jersey, this past month, finishing ahead by a couple of lengths. However, as a bettor, I’d take into account Cyberknife’s run in the Kentucky Derby, where he finished in 18th. That’ll play a key in this race as he faces off against Rich Strike, Epicenter, and Zandon, who all ran in the Kentucky Derby in one, two, and three order. However, I do see Cyberknife being a top competitor as he dazzled in the Haskell, Matt Winn, and G1 Arkansas Derby.

Rich Strike

Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike may be one of the top contenders in the Travers Stakes this year after his incredible performance in the Kentucky Derby. But there’s one thing that will decide if he has a shot or not during the race. If Epicenter, the favorite to win the Travers, gets out into an early lead, Strike won’t have enough to catch up to him. But if Epicenter doesn’t, the pack will rally late, giving Strike a good opportunity to make a run. The good news for Strike, though, is he’s performed exceptionally in his last workouts, improving from earlier this year.

Zandon

Zandon is one of the horses that many forget could be a top competitor in the Travers Stakes this weekend as he hasn’t necessarily won any major stakes but has placed well in almost all of them. He won the Bluegrass Stakes at Keeneland this year, allowing him to qualify for the Breeders cup. But following his win, he’s only shown or placed in his last races over some Traverse competitors. Zandon finished third in the Kentucky Derby and then second in the Jim Dandy behind Epicenter, the current favorite for the Travers Stakes. I don’t see Zandon winning the Travers, but from an exotic bettors standpoint, he’s definitely worth putting in an exacta, trifecta, or superfecta.

Artorius

One of the entries that shocked us was Artorius entering the Travers after coming off of a win in the Curlin Stakes. Artorius is like Zandon. I don’t think he is one to win the Travers but has a possibility of being in your exotics. I wouldn’t put him in a Trifecta, but if you want a superfecta I’d throw him in there with ease.

Ain’t Life Grand

Ain’t Life Grand comes into the Travers weekend fresh off a first-place finish in the Iowa Derby. However, like favorite Epicenter, he had never faced off against some of the strong front runners in the Travers. Now I wouldn’t rule him out of contention as we have seen how sometimes the favorites don’t win, like Rich Strike in the Kentucky Derby, but I wouldn’t be as confident in him as I am with other competitors.

Gilded Age

The longest of longshots in the Travers as Gilded Age is yet to have faced most competitors or won against them. Gilded Age recently ran in the Curlin Stakes, finishing in second behind Travers Stakes runner Artorius. Though he has experience on the Saratoga Track, I don’t believe he has a shot at keeping up with Epicenter, Early Voting, Zandon, and Rich Strike, as he hasn’t shown us anything worth noting. However, this could be his race to prove his strength, but I believe he will race under par once more.

Closing Thoughts

Well, there you have it. My picks for the Travers are set with Epicenter winning, Cyberknife placing, and Zandon showing again. I change it up a little bit when it comes to my exotics with Epicenter still as my winner, but Zandon in second and Early voting in third like the Jim Dandy. Strike makes it into my superfecta but not my trifecta. My finishing orders are Epicenter, Cyberknife, Zandon, Rich Strike, Early Voting, Artorius, Gilded Age, and Aint Life Grand. Best of luck to all! Make sure to tune in for the Travers at 5:45 this Saturday for the 153rd running of the Travers Stakes presented by Run Happy.

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