How to bet the Travers 2018 Late Pick 5 on a budget

With a minimum single-ticket payout of $1 million up for grabs on Travers Stakes day, there’s a reason they call the NYRA Bets Late Pick 5 Racing’s Best Play.

Available exclusively to NYRA Bets members across the country, the enhanced payout is triggered if an existing account holder is the sole winner of the NYRA Bets Late Pick 5. It happened as recently as Monday, when a NYRA Bets account holder triggered a $150,000 payout, receiving an additional $51,107 on top of the winning wager worth $98,892.

The NYRA Bets Late Pick 5 covers the last five races each day at Saratoga and features a low 15 percent takeout rate and 50-cent minimum bet. Saturday’s sequence begins with Race 7, at approximately 2:59 p.m. ET, and concludes with Race 11, the Grade 1, $1.25 million Runhappy Travers headlined by Wonder Gadot as she takes on the boys, including Champion two-year-old and Haskell winner, Good Magic.

Sign up for NYRA Bets to play the wager, and check out Horse Racing Nation handicapper Jarrod Horak’s guide to betting it on a budget.

I will use one of my favorite cost-effective Pick 5 wagering strategies, the spread ticket formula. It would cost $1,125 to lump all of my contenders on one ticket, but the spread ticket formula knocks the price down to a much more affordable $52.

Race 7 (G1 Personal Ensign, 9f)

Primary - #6 ELATE, #1 Abel Tasman

Secondary - #4 Wow Cat

Comments: #6 Elate (7-5) could not have been more impressive in her G2 Delaware Handicap return at a mile and a quarter. She should run faster today, and she followed up a head defeat to Abel Tasman in the Coaching Club American Oaks with a G1 Alabama romp at Saratoga last summer. #1 Abel Tasman (6-5) got back on the beam in a romping victory in the G1 Ogden Phipps last time, and she won the G1 CCAO at Saratoga last summer. #4 Wow Cat (4-1) was a win machine in Chile, and she came to the U.S. and missed by a neck at this course/distance off a 7-plus month layoff in the G3 Shuvee. Johnny V. knows her now, and the Chad Brown trainee could be fitter today. 

Race 8 (G1 Ballerina, 7f)

Primary - #2 IVY BELL

Secondary - #5 Finley’sluckycharm, #6 Lewis Bay, #7 Marley’s Freedom, #8 Union Strike

Comments: #2 Ivy Bell (5-1) turns back to a preferred sprint for Pletcher, and she fired exacta shots in all four starts at this distance. She can win this at a hint of a price. #5 Finley’sluckycharm (3-1) is an 11-for-17 win type exiting a local tally in the G2 Honorable Miss at six panels. She owns a couple of wins at this distance and should make her presence felt throughout. #6 Lewis Bay (3-1) romped at this distance when last seen in the G3 Bed o’ Roses. She runs well fresh for Jose Ortiz Jr./Brown. #7 Marley’s Freedom (2-1) won her last three Southern California sprints, and Mike Smith hops aboard for Bob Baffert. She is 0-for-3 at this distance. #8 Union Strike (15-1) has always been best around one turn, and Steve Asmussen takes over the training duties for Ruis Racing. She ran well in all three starts at this distance and can spice up the exotics. 

Race 9 (G1 Forego, 7f)

Primary - #6 C Z ROCKET, #8 City of Light

Secondary - #1 Limousine Liberal, #5 No Dozing, #7 Warrior’s Club

Comments: #6 C Z Rocket (9-2) might be the right one in this spot. He got back on the beam with a big extended sprint stakes win in the Kelly’s Landing June 30. He is sharp, fresh, and versatile, and a stalking trip is expected. #8 City of Light (9-5) owns a pair of Grade 1 wins at this specialty distance (Triple Bend, Malibu), and he stretched out and edged Accelerate in the G2 Oaklawn 'Cap on April 14. He weakened to third when last seen in the G1 Gold Cup, as the 10-furlong distance tripped him up that day. The classy colt is a big threat on the turn back. #1 Limousine Liberal (3-1) exits a game victory in a below-par renewal of the G2 Belmont Sprint. He is best at seven panels, but Churchill is the track he loves, and the inside post is no bargain at this distance. #5 No Dozing (12-1) exits a sharp course/distance win vs. optional claiming foes off a layoff, and he earned good numbers that day. He has never won a graded race (0-for-7). #7 Warrior’s Club (10-1) frequently tries hard for D. Wayne Lukas, and seven panels might be his preferred trip. I liked him underneath in the G1 Vanderbilt, and I will key him under again in this spot.  

Race 10 (G1 Sword Dancer, 12f inner turf) 

Primary - #4 Hi Happy, #10 Sadler’s Joy

Secondary - #3 Funtastic, #6 Bigger Picture, #7 Channel Maker, #2 Spring Quality

Comments: #4 Hi Happy (6-1) seemed to dislike the soft footing in the G2 Bowling Green last time. He is 2-for-2 at this distance, owns early-pressing versatility, and should get firmer turf today. #10 Sadler’s Joy (7-2) followed up a close-up show finish in the G2 Bowling Green with a win in this event last year, and the same pattern is present this year. Look for a well-timed late move under Javier Castellano. #3 Funtastic (9-2) exits back-to-back front running wins including a game tally in the G1 United Nations. Ortiz has booted him home twice, and he is not a need to lead type. #6 Bigger Picture (8-1) tries hard and was a close-up third in this event last year. Ortiz Jr. hops aboard. #7 Channel Maker (5-1) was one I was following for quite some time, and as soon as I jumped off, he jumped up and won the Bowling Green (dead-heat). Let’s see if he can run two alike. #2 Spring Quality (4-1) upset the G1 Manhattan, and that was his third straight strong effort in a graded turf route. Saturday's added distance should not hurt his chances. 

Race 11 (G1 Travers, 10f) 

Primary - #9 GOOD MAGIC

Secondary - #11 Catholic Boy, #3 Gronkowski, #2 Wonder Gadot, #4 Bravazo

NYRA Bets Pick 5 Tickets (Races 7-11):