Travers guide: Sovereignty can burnish his legend at Saratoga
The 156th running of the Grade 1, 1 1/4-mile Travers is Saturday at Saratoga. The so-called mid-summer derby has drawn just five horses, topped by Sovereignty, the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner who added the Jim Dandy to his resume last month without breaking a sweat.
Sovereignty looks to become Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott's first Travers winner. He would be the third for owner Godolphin. They owned Alpha, part of the 2012 dead-heat with Golden Ticket, as well as champion Essential Quality who romped in 2021. Sheik Mohammed's Darley stable campaigned Travers winner Bernardini in 2006. A win here could shoot Sovereignty to favoritism in the Breeders' Cup Classic.
The consensus top rival to Sovereignty in this race is Magnitude, the scintillating speed horse whose Risen Star win had people screaming about the Kentucky Derby back in February, and who was promptly taken off the trail with an injury. He has returned with an easy win in the Iowa Derby and will most likely be the controlling speed here.
Chad Brown's Strategic Focus could be a threat with white-hot rider Flavien Prat in the irons. Bracket Buster and McAfee fill out the field. See how these contenders stack up here.
The Travers is race 13, post time 6:14 p.m. EDT. It will be broadcast as part of the "Saratoga Live" show on Fox beginning at 3 p.m. NYRA Bets also offers streaming for free account holders.
Free past performances for the Travers and undercard stakes are courtesy of Brisnet.
Here are the top lifetime speed figures the Travers entrants.
| Post | Horse | Beyer* | TFUS* | Brisnet | HRN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magnitude | 108 | 126 | 105 | 129 |
| 2 | Bracket Buster | 91 | 122 | 96 | 129 |
| 3 | Strategic Focus | 102 | 118 | 107 | 129 |
| 4 | Sovereignty | 109 | 125 | 111 | 138 |
| 5 | McAfee | 93 | 118 | 96 | 121 |
*Beyer and TimeformUS speed figures are presented courtesy of Daily Racing Form.
HRN handicappers
This week's HorseCenter has both Brian Zipse and Matt Shifman checking-in from Saratoga Springs with on-site observations and plays for the five Grade 1 stakes Saturday.
"Although the size of the field is disappointing, it could be interesting tactically as Sovereignty has to deal with the speedy Magnitude without much help," Zipse says.
It's all Travers on the Ron Flatter Racing Pod as NYRA's Andy Serling joins the pod to talk about the big race and the 3-year-old division at large. Also on tap is Sovereignty's rider, Junior Alvarado with a first-hand view of the race. Finally, The Paddock Prince, David Levitch has plays for Travers day. Listen here.
HRN's Ed DeRosa accepts that Sovereignty is the clear Travers favorite and most likely winner. But where can a player find value?
Head-to-head handicappers Laurie Ross and Ashley Tamulonis debate whether Sovereignty is beatable.
Get your copy of the Super Screener for the Travers plus all other Grade 1 stakes this weekend! You'll get every weekend through the Breeders' Cup, too.