The focus of the horse racing world zeroes in on Saratoga Race Course Aug. 24 for the 155th running of the Travers Stakes (G1). The 1 1/4-mile Travers is the most prestigious race for 3-year-olds outside of the Triple Crown races in late spring and often is crucial in determining the year-end champion in that division.
The Travers should have significant impact on the 3-year-old standings this year since there were three different winners of the Triple Crown events. One of them—Belmont Stakes (G1) victor Dornoch—will be competing in the Travers. What's more, the best 3-year-old filly in training, Thorpedo Anna, was entered in the Travers in an attempt to become the first female to win the race since 1915.
Overall, Saturday's Travers drew a high-quality, competitive field of eight starters competing for a hefty $1.25 million purse and the right to inscribe their name in the sport's history. Notable Travers winners from years past include Kentucky (1864), Ruthless (1867), Duke of Magenta (1878), Hindoo (1881), Henry of Navarre (1894), Broomstick (1904), Roamer (1914), Man o' War (1920), Twenty Grand (1931), Granville (1936), Whirlaway (1941), Native Dancer (1953), Gallant Man (1957), Sword Dancer (1959), Buckpasser (1966), Damascus (1967), Arts and Letters (1969), Alydar (1978), Temperence Hill (1980), Forty Niner (1988), Easy Goer (1989), Holy Bull (1994), Thunder Gulch (1995), Point Given (2001), Medaglia d'Oro (2002), Bernardini (2006), Street Sense (2007), Arrogate (2016), Essential Quality (2021), and Arcangelo (2023).
The 155th Travers will be broadcast nationwide on FOX during NYRA's "Saratoga Saturdays" show airing from 3-6:30 p.m. ET. Post time is set for 6:10 p.m.
Travers Stakes contenders
1. Thorpedo Anna (3-1 morning-line odds)
Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr.
Trainer: Ken McPeek
Owners: Brookdale Racing, Mark Edwards, Judy Hicks, and Magdalena Racing
Career record: 7 starts - 6 wins - 1 second - 0 third
Career earnings: $1,980,663
Earnings per start: $282,952
Top Equibase Speed Figure: 105
Pedigree: Fast Anna—Sataves, by Uncle Mo
Color: Dark bay or brown
Running style: Press the pace
Notable achievements and interesting facts: Ken McPeek's decision to bypass the Aug. 17, 1 1/4-mile Alabama Stakes (G1) with his star filly Thorpedo Anna and instead point her to the Travers elevated this year's 155th running into a truly must-see event for sports fans. Seven fillies have won this prestigious race, but none since Lady Rotha in 1915, and a filly hasn't started in the Travers since Wonder Gadot finished last of 10 in 2018. If any 3-year-old filly from the past decade or so could be up to the task, Thorpedo Anna qualifies. She currently exists in another stratosphere compared with her divisional rivals, having won all four of her starts in 2024 by a combined margin of 18 3/4 lengths. The last three of those wins have all come at a distance of 1 1/8 miles—the Kentucky Oaks (G1) on May 3, the Acorn Stakes (G1) on June 7, and the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) on July 20. The latter two races were run on Saratoga's dirt track, a surface Thorpedo Anna appeared to relish even more than the dirt on her home track, Churchill Downs. With that said, this filly has a pedigree that is suspect at longer distances, and her speed figures are not superior to those of her main rivals in the Travers. There's no doubt this Travers field shapes up as the toughest that McPeek's described "grizzly" will face to date in her career, but arguably no 3-year-old of 2024, not even Dornoch and Fierceness, has shown such dazzling cruising speed on the track. Look for regular jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. to be aggressive out of the gate having drawn the inside post position and try to secure a good forward spot with Thorpedo Anna - not necessarily on the lead - while this filly's main speed rivals Dornoch and Fierceness attempt to get out quick and move over from their outside posts.
Travers history: McPeek memorably won the 2012 Travers with 33.50-1 longshot Golden Ticket, who shared honors with Alpha after the pair finished in a dead heat for first.
2. Sierra Leone (7-2)
Jockey: Flavien Prat
Trainer: Chad Brown
Owners: Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg, Rocket Ship Racing, and Peter Brant
Career record: 7 starts - 3 wins - 3 seconds - 1 third
Career earnings: $2,218,000
Earnings per start: $316,857
Top Equibase Speed Figure: 109
Pedigree: Gun Runner —Heavenly Love, by Malibu Moon
Color: Dark bay or brown
Running style: Closer
Notable achievements and interesting facts: After emerging as a top-tier member of the division through the winter months of 2023-'24 and then building upon that reputation with two impressive wins in Kentucky Derby preps, Sierra Leone has come up short in three consecutive marquee races and enters the Travers as something of an enigma. The talent first hinted at when he was bought for $2.3 million as a yearling by several of his owners is unquestionable, but maturity and focus issues have kept him from finishing off his races over the spring and summer. In the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Belmont Stakes, Sierra Leone continued to display a habit to drift in the stretch run—particularly egregious in the Derby—and he finished second (by a nose) and third in those respective races. The Gun Runner colt appeared to have solved that issue in his lead-in race to the Travers, as he settled back early and then came running with a rail move to finish a length behind Fierceness in the 1 1/8-mile Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) July 27 at Saratoga. Still, Sierra Leone was the 4-5 favorite in the Jim Dandy and came up short, and it will be interesting to see what his post-time odds are against a highly accomplished Travers field after three straight "close but no cigar" efforts. There's no doubt that his Equibase Speed Figures and stamina-rich pedigree make him a contender in this race—the questions concern his tendency to find trouble during his races and whether a swift pace will materialize to help him. A must-use in all exacta and trifecta tickets.
Travers history: Michael Tabor from the Coolmore group won the 1995 Travers with Thunder Gulch, and Tabor, Derrick Smith, and Susan Magnier co-owned 2018 runner-up Mendelssohn . Trainer Chad Brown's best finish from 15 Travers starters is a pair of thirds with Miles D (2021) and Zandon (2022). Jockey Flavien Prat has finished third twice (2021, 2022) in three Travers appearances.
3. Unmatched Wisdom (8-1)
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.
Trainer: Chad Brown
Owner: Klaravich Stables
Career record: 3 starts - 3 wins - 0 seconds - 0 thirds
Career earnings: $178,750
Earnings per start: $59,583
Top Equibase Speed Figure: 107
Pedigree: Cairo Prince —Glide On By, by Pure Prize
Color: Dark bay or brown
Running style: Pacesetter/press the pace
Notable achievements and interesting facts: Here's the wild-card Travers contender: a colt who enters the "Mid-Summer Derby" unbeaten in three career starts with ascending speed figures and racing for highly successful connections. Unmatched Wisdom debuted May 1 during the Belmont at the Big A (Aqueduct) meet in a one-turn mile race and romped by 6 1/4 lengths on a muddy track, then followed that with a dominant 5 3/4-length score when stretched out to two turns in a 1 1/8-mile allowance-optional claiming race at the same track June 22. The Cairo Prince colt then was entered in the 1 1/8-mile Curlin Stakes July 19 at Saratoga, and led at every point of call en route to a one-length win over Corporate Power. In his first two races, Unmatched Wisdom settled just off of the early pace and took over at will on jockey Flavien Prat's cue, but in the Curlin he was aggressively handled by Prat after breaking from the inside post and was in front of the field before reaching the first turn. Prat will ride Sierra Leone in the Travers, and reigning Eclipse Award-winning jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. will ride Unmatched Wisdom. Look for Ortiz to urge his mount to contest the lead early with speed drawn to his inside (Thorpedo Anna) and outside (Dornoch and Fierceness). It's a tough ask for this contender to extend his unblemished race record in a stacked edition of the Travers, but securing a minor award is certainly possible.
Travers history: Chad Brown finished third in the Travers in 2021 with Miles D and in 2022 with Zandon, his best finishes from 15 Travers starters. Fellow Saratoga standout Ortiz likewise is seeking his first Travers win, having finished fourth twice in 12 prior appearances.
4. Corporate Power (15-1)
Jockey: Javier Castellano
Trainer: Shug McGaughey
Owner: Courtlandt Farms
Career record: 5 starts - 2 wins - 2 seconds - 0 thirds
Career earnings: $148,200
Earnings per start: $29,640
Top Equibase Speed Figure: 105
Pedigree: Curlin —Road to Victory, by Quality Road
Color: Bay
Running style: Stalker
Notable achievements and interesting facts: This colt, a $925,000 purchase by owner Courtlandt Farm as a yearling, has posted speed figures that are competitive with the rest of the Travers field but lacks a marquee win so far through five career starts. Corporate Power enters off of a runner-up finish by a length to Travers foe Unmatched Wisdom in the 1 1/8-mile Curlin Stakes July 19 at Saratoga, where he stalked in second for most of the race behind that pacesetter and had his bid for the lead rebuffed coming out of the far turn. In his start before that, he fought hard to rally in the stretch at Pimlico Race Course and win the 1 1/16-mile Sir Barton Stakes by a nose over Gould's Gold. Corporate Power leaned into another rival in the stretch but recovered to tally his first stakes win in the Sir Barton, and he earned a 103 Equibase Speed Figure in that race, topped by a 105 in the Curlin Stakes. Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey is renowned for his patience in developing top-class horses, so it's a sign of confidence that he's willing to test this colt against heavy hitters such as Dornoch, Fierceness, and Thorpedo Anna. While he's an outsider as a win candidate, this colt has a stalking running style that fits in well against the Travers field where several horses including the aforementioned trio should vie for the lead and ensure a solid pace. As such, Corporate Power shapes up as a logical trifecta filler at what should be a solid price.
Travers history: McGaughey has won the Travers four times, with the great Easy Goer (1989), Rhythm (1990), Coronado's Quest (1998), and Code of Honor (2019). Fellow Hall of Famer Javier Castellano holds the all-time record in Travers wins with seven, coming aboard Bernardini (2006), Afleet Express (2010), Stay Thirsty (2011), V. E. Day (2014), Keen Ice (2015), Catholic Boy (2018) and Arcangelo (2023).
5. Batten Down (20-1)
Jockey: Junior Alvarado
Trainer: Bill Mott
Owner: Juddmonte
Career record: 6 starts - 2 wins - 1 second - 2 thirds
Career earnings: $454,850
Earnings per start: $75,808
Top Equibase Speed Figure: 98
Pedigree: Tapit —Close Hatches, by First Defence
Color: Gray or roan
Running style: Pacesetter/press the pace
Notable achievements and interesting facts: This Juddmonte homebred from an elite family enters the Travers off of a decent third-place finish in Saratoga's local prep, the 1 1/8-mile Jim Dandy Stakes July 27. He stalked the early pace set by longshot Pony Express followed by Fierceness and briefly seemed ready to engage Fierceness for the lead through the far turn after that horse took over. Batten Down's rally stalled and he was no match for eventual winner Fierceness and for late-closing runner-up Sierra Leone, finishing 6 3/4 lengths out of first, but he was 5 1/4 lengths clear of the fourth-place horse, Preakness Stakes (G1) winner Seize the Grey. Batten Down must now face both Fierceness and Sierra Leone again in the Travers, along with several other high-quality horses, and he'll need to run a career-best race to have a chance at scoring the upset. There's untapped potential with this colt, however, based on his two sharp wins earlier this year, including a front-running Ohio Derby (G3) victory, along with his stamina-rich pedigree. Batten Down's dam, Close Hatches, won the Eclipse Award as champion older female in 2014, earned more than $2.7 million in her career, and has also produced $4.2 million earner Tacitus (second in the 2019 Belmont) and current graded stakes-winning filly Scylla, both also sired by Tapit.
Travers history: Owner-breeder Juddmonte won the 2016 Travers with track record-setter Arrogate. Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott has finished second in this race three times, most recently with Tacitus. Jockey Junior Alvarado's best Travers finish in five starts came in his 2013 debut, a third.
6. Honor Marie (20-1)
Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione
Trainer: Whit Beckman
Owners: Ribble Farms, Michael Eiserman, Earl Silver, Kenneth Fishbein, and Dave Fishbein
Career record: 7 starts - 2 wins - 2 seconds - 0 thirds
Career earnings: $626,175
Earnings per start: $89,454
Top Equibase Speed Figure: 98
Pedigree: Honor Code—Dame Marie, by Smart Strike
Color: Bay
Running style: Closer
Notable achievements and interesting facts: This deep closer could get a favorable pace setup in the Travers that has several speed horses entered, but he'll still need to summon a career-best effort to have any chance at pulling the upset. Honor Marie returns after a 2 1/2-month break as he was last seen grinding his way to a fourth-place finish behind Dornoch in the Belmont Stakes June 6. The Belmont was held at Saratoga and at 1 1/4 miles for 2024 while host track Belmont Park continues with a reconstruction project, and Honor Marie showed enough in that race (where he was bumped early and then again in the stretch) to warrant consideration as a longshot trifecta filler come Saturday. Prior to the Belmont, Honor Marie again made up ground late after a very rough start to finish eighth in the Kentucky Derby, which followed a very good runner-up effort to fellow late runner Sierra Leone in the 1 3/16-mile Louisiana Derby (G2). He's got enough stamina in his pedigree to handle a mile and a quarter, but will need to boost his best career Equibase Speed Figure (twice earning a 98) by about 10 points to be a factor. Look for first-time rider Tyler Gaffalione to try to avoid early trouble at all costs and settle Honor Marie in a good position…and then to hope for a fast early pace to set up his rally. The colt will wear blinkers for first time in the Travers to hopefully improve his focus as he kicks into late gear.
Travers history: Honor Marie's owners, trainer, and jockey are all seeking their first wins in this prestigious race.
7. Dornoch (5-2)
Jockey: Luis Saez
Trainer: Danny Gargan
Owners: West Paces Racing, R. A. Hill Stable, Belmar Racing and Breeding, Two Eight Racing, and Pine Racing Stables
Career record: 9 starts - 5 wins - 2 seconds - 0 thirds
Career earnings: $2,352,275
Earnings per start: $261,364
Top Equibase Speed Figure: 107
Pedigree: Good Magic —Puca, by Big Brown
Color: Bay
Running style: Pacesetter/press the pace
Notable achievements and interesting facts: If Dornoch can add a win in the Travers Stakes to his pair of top-level triumphs from earlier this summer, he will be the heavy favorite to receive the Eclipse Award as champion 3-year-old male of 2024 heading into Breeders' Cup season. This well-bred colt, who was a leading Kentucky Derby future-book contender over the winter, appeared to have plateaued during the spring with a couple of off-the board finishes in the Blue Grass Stakes (G1) and the Kentucky Derby itself, in which he drew the dreaded rail post position. Dornoch has since rebounded to post valiant wins in the June 8 Belmont Stakes and the July 20 Haskell Stakes (G1). In both of those races, Dornoch vied for the lead from the outset, shook off his pace foe, and then found more in the stretch to hold off late challengers. He earned Equibase Speed Figures of 106 and 107 in the Belmont and Haskell stakes, respectively, and his Belmont win is especially noteworthy as it came at the distance of 1 1/4 miles and on Saratoga's dirt track—the exact conditions he'll face in the Travers. If there is one concern about his return to the Spa Saturday, it's that there are at least three Travers opponents who also do their best running on or very close to the early lead in Fierceness, Thorpedo Anna, and Unmatched Wisdom, so there stands a possibility that Dornoch could be forced to expend more energy in the early stages of the Travers than he did in his two recent wins. That being said, he's already established as one of the toughest competitors of his age group—maybe the toughest—and it would be a surprise to see him anywhere other than in the top two or three horses entering the Travers homestretch. A main win candidate.
Travers history: Luis Saez has tallied two Travers wins in seven starts, with Will Take Charge in his 2013 debut, and then in his most recent start aboard Essential Quality in 2021.
8. Fierceness (3-1)
Jockey: John Velazquez
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Owner: Repole Stable
Career record: 7 starts - 4 wins - 0 seconds - 1 third
Career earnings: $1,978,850
Earnings per start: $282,693
Top Equibase Speed Figure: 110
Pedigree: City of Light —Nonna Bella, by Stay Thirsty
Color: Bay
Running style: Pacesetter/press the pace
Notable achievements and interesting facts: This supremely fast colt bounced back from a disappointing 15th-place finish in the Kentucky Derby with a game one-length win over Sierra Leone in the Jim Dandy Stakes July 27 at Saratoga. Fierceness raced close to early pacesetting longshot Pony Express in that 1 1/8-mile race, took over entering the far turn, easily turned back a mild bid by Batten Down, and then was kept to task by regular rider John Velazquez while drifting out in the stretch to prevail over rallying Sierra Leone. In the Kentucky Derby, Fierceness had also raced close to the early lead, but began to retreat after a mile and ended up 24 1/2 lengths behind winner Mystik Dan and runner-up Sierra Leone as the post-time favorite. He's alternated excellent starts with poor ones throughout his career, and exiting the Jim Dandy, that pattern indicates that a subpar effort may be forthcoming in the Travers. On the other hand, Fierceness' three best Equibase Speed Figures (two 110s plus a 108 in the Jim Dandy) are better than nearly every other Travers opponent. One additional concern is Fierceness' pedigree which, while very good, is not as stamina-rich as the bloodlines of foes such as Dornoch and Sierra Leone. At the very least, Fierceness should be a pace factor in the Travers, and if he can break the "good-bad" cycle Saturday we could see a joyous celebration by owner-breeder Mike Repole, his family, and friends in the Saratoga winner's circle.
Travers history: Repole won the Travers with his first starter in the race, Stay Thirsty back in 2011. That colt was trained by Todd Pletcher, and the Hall of Famer also won the Travers with Flower Alley in 2005. Fellow Hall of Fame member John Velazquez rode Flower Alley and picked up a second Travers win aboard Code of Honor in 2019.
