The $1.25 million Travers Stakes often is referred to as the Midsummer Derby. But this year’s Travers includes only 1 of the top 7 from the Kentucky Derby and not a single alumnus of the Preakness. It almost feels like a reset of where we were in mid-May, making this essentially the “Do-Over Derby” for 2024.
Saturday’s Travers Day card also includes Grade 1 supporting stakes like the Forego, Sword Dancer, Ballerina and H. Allen Jerkens Memorial.
Let’s meet the contenders for the Travers (Race 13):
#1-THORPEDO ANNA: It’s been since 1915 that a filly won the Travers, but the 2024 Kentucky Oaks winner has won all 4 starts this year and 6 of 7 overall. She’s the pinch-hitter of sorts for Kenny McPeek-trained stablemate Mystik Dan, almost forgotten winner of the Kentucky Derby and since sidelined for the season. She’s been forwardly placed in most of her starts and should be again under regular rider Brian Hernandez Jr. She gets a 5-pound weight allowance taking on the boys and has won back-to-back local stakes in the Acorn and Coaching Club American Oaks. The mile and one-quarter trip will be the longest of her career. McPeek dead-heated for the Travers win in 2012 with Golden Ticket.
#2-SIERRA LEONE: Nose runner-up in the Kentucky Derby since has been beaten favorite in the Belmont Stakes and Jim Dandy (third and second-place finishes). Stayed inside in the Jim Dandy and ran straight when second-best to Travers return rival Fierceness. First or second in 6 of 7 starts with his lone third-place effort coming over this same track and distance in the Belmont Stakes behind Dornoch. Look for Flavien Prat to keep the Chad Brown trainee inside again with a two-hole draw and be rallying in the stretch with what should be a favorable pace set-up. Connections search for their first Travers success.
#3-UNMATCHED WISDOM: Most lightly raced Travers entrant this year has won all 3 starts and will be the Chad Brown-trained sidekick to the more accomplished Sierra Leone. Won Saratoga’s Curlin Stakes in wire-to-wire fashion July 19 under Flavien Prat. That rider hops seats to Sierra Leone, leaving top pilot Irad Ortiz Jr. to pick up the mount in pursuit of his first Travers glory. Cairo Prince colt did not debut until May 10, the Friday after this year’s Kentucky Derby. Sire Cairo Prince could have a massive week with his son My Boy Prince the favorite for Friday’s $1 million Queen’s Plate at Woodbine.
#4-CORPORATE POWER: Runner-up in Saratoga’s Curlin Stakes behind Travers rematched rival Unmatched Wisdom will make his first bid in a graded stakes. Trainer Shug McGaughey, who won this race 4 times between 1989-2019, can tie the all-time Travers record held by Bert Mulholland with a fifth score. Jockey Javier Castellano already is in the Travers record book with 7 victories, including a year ago aboard Arcangelo. Corporate Power has won 2 of 5, including the Sir Barton Stakes at PImlico on the Preakness undercard. Sire Curlin won the Woodward in his only Saratoga appearance, but has sired Spa Grade 1 stakes winners like Idiomatic, Elite Power and Cody’s Wish.
#5-BATTEN DOWN: Grade 3 Ohio Derby winner was an even third in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy behind Travers foes Fierceness and Sierra Leone, giving way late over 9 furlongs. Additional distance and lack of a 4-pound weight break that was in play in the Jim Dandy provide increased challenges. Regally bred son of Tapit-Close Hatches is full-brother to 2019 Travers runner-up Tacitus. Regular rider Junior Alvarado returns for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, who seeks his first Midsummer Derby win in his 13th attempt. Mott has been second here 3 times, most recently with Tacitus.
#6-HONOR MARIE: Blinkers go on the Belmont Stakes fourth-place finisher, a deep closer previously who has dropped all 4 decisions so far in 2024. Won last year’s Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club at Churchill Downs to put him on the Triple Crown trail and was runner-up in this year’s Louisiana Derby. Suffered difficult trips in both the Kentucky Derby and Belmont while finishing in the top half of both fields while not threatening the top spots. Trainer Whit Beckman turns to Tyler Gaffalione in a rider change. Sire Honor Code was 2-2 at the Spa, winning the 2015 Whitney, and his son Max Player was third in the 2020 Travers and returned a year later to win the Jockey Club Gold Cup over this track and trip.
#7-DORNOCH: Right now the leader in the 3-year-old title chase on the strength of back-to-back Grade 1 wins in the Belmont Stakes and Haskell. This year’s Belmont was an apples to apples comparison to the Travers, hosted at Saratoga over 1-1/4 miles while Belmont Park is under reconstruction. Dornoch has won 5 of 9 starts for trainer Danny Gargan, but was a well-beaten eighth in the Kentucky Derby and a well-beaten fourth in the Blue Grass prior. He’s 2-and-2 in the 4 head-to-head matchups with Travers rival Sierra Leone. Luis Saez, Travers winner in 2013 and 2021, returns in the saddle. In all 5 victories, Dornoch has raced on or contesting the early lead.
#8-FIERCENESS: Brilliant and eye-sore performances dot the resume of last year’s Champion 2-Year-Old Colt. He’s been excellent in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, Florida Derby and most recently in the Jim Dandy over 9 furlongs at Saratoga. But defeats of 20-plus lengths in the Champagne and Kentucky Derby make his inconsistency a viable concern. He’s 2-for-2 at Saratoga and veteran connections of Todd Pletcher and John Velazquez account for 4 Travers victories, teaming with Flower Alley in 2005. Similar to Dornoch, in all 4 victories, Fierceness has raced on or contesting the early lead. Damsire Stay Thirsty won the 2011 Travers for Pletcher.
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