Track Trends: Where are favorites vulnerable Travers week?

For the week ended Sunday, the total favorite win rate reached 39.4 percent. 747 races were contested across the country, with an average field size of 7.2 runners. The average payout for a $2.00 win wager was $11.18.

Chalk won at a 50 percent clip or greater at 11 tracks last week, including the Mellon turf course at Saratoga. The betting public was spot on in 7-of-14 races contested there, and the average field size was 7.93 runners. Winning favorites also were abundant at tracks such as Charles Town, Thistledown and over the Monmouth turf course. 

Of the three surfaces at Saratoga, the inner turf course proved the most profitable for bettors. Favorites won 23 percent of the time in 13 contested races. The average field size was higher than that of the Mellon, with 8.62 runners. Average payout on a $2.00 win wager was $20.38, the second highest of any surface for the week. 

For those playing Saratoga turf racing this week, it will be important to note that the rails are moving. Therefore, the inside speed bias that has been prominent is highly likely to change. Subscribe to the Horse Racing Nation YouTube channel to be notified of this week's Travers livestream preview.

Colonial Downs had the highest average $2.00 win wager payout, at $23.86 for the main track. Favorites were completely unsuccessful, going 0-for-7. Power Picks are available for horseplayers interested in building their Travers bankroll at Colonial Downs this week. 

Turf racing at Colonial offered significant value as well, with favorites winning only 18 percent of the time on the outer turf. The inner turf was slightly easier for bettors to figure out, as chalk won 40 percent of the time there. 

Other locations where favorites won less than 20 percent of the time included Belterra Park and Ellis Park.