Can Always Dreaming end the Kentucky Derby-Travers dry spell?

It’s been ten years since the Kentucky Derby winner also won the Travers Stakes. Street Sense was the last to do so in 2007, and now the 2017 Kentucky Derby winner, Always Dreaming, hopes to gain his first win since the first Saturday in May.

After an impressive 2 ¾-length score in the Kentucky Derby, Always Dreaming faded to eighth in the Preakness Stakes and third in the Jim Dandy Stakes. Trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by John Velazquez, Always Dreaming was installed as the 6-1 fourth choice on the 2017 Travers morning line, with stablemate Tapwrit, the Belmont Stakes winner, as the 7-2 favorite.

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Always Dreaming will be only the fourth Kentucky Derby winner to run in the Travers since Street Sense. The last to try was American Pharoah, who was upset by Keen Ice.

Here is a look back at the horses to win both the Kentucky Derby and the Travers:

Street Sense (2007): After a head loss to Curlin in the Preakness, Street Sense earned back-to-back victories in the Jim Dandy and the Travers. Grasshopper was in the lead during the Travers, but Street Sense wore him down to win by half a length.

Thunder Gulch (1995): Although a third in the Preakness prevented him from a Triple Crown sweep, Thunder Gulch went on to win the Swaps Stakes after the Belmont and followed that up with a 4 ½-length Travers win.

Sea Hero (1993): With a loss in the Preakness, Belmont, and Jim Dandy, the Travers was a comeback win for Sea Hero. A statue in his honor now graces the Saratoga paddock.

*Affirmed (1978): The Triple Crown winner was the first to cross the finish line in the Travers, but was disqualified to second for serious interference. Instead, the victory went to Affirmed’s rival, Alydar.

Shut Out (1942): In addition to the Kentucky Derby and Travers, Shut Out had an impressive three-year-old season, also winning the Belmont and the Blue Grass Stakes.

Whirlaway (1941): The Triple Crown winner won 32 of 60 career starts on his way to being named two-year-old champion, three-year-old champion, and becoming a two-time Horse of the Year.

Twenty Grand (1931): A second in the Preakness prevented Twenty Grand from a Triple Crown title, but victories in the Travers, Wood Memorial, and Jockey Club Gold Cup still boosted him to Horse of the Year.

Omar Khayyam (1917): The English-bred Omar Khayyam was the first foreign-born horse to win the Kentucky Derby. Other major wins include the Travers and the Saratoga Cup.

Azra (1892): Azra raced in the smallest Kentucky Derby field in history with only three runners. Despite the big win over only two horses, victories in the Travers and Clark Handicap proved his talent.

Hindoo (1881): Hindoo raced 35 times and won an impressive 30 races. He is also the sire of Hanover, the 1887 Belmont winner, who was the leading sire in the United States from 1895-98.

Baden-Baden (1877): The same year as his Kentucky Derby and Travers wins, Baden-Baden also won the Jersey Derby and ran third in the Belmont.

By Christine Oser