The focus of the horse racing world zeroes in on Saratoga Race Course Saturday for the 155th running of the Travers Stakes.
It is the most prestigious race for 3-year-olds outside of the Triple Crown races in late spring and often is crucial in determining the year-end champion in that division.
The Travers always serves as a major emphasis in the season for 3-year-olds, hence the nickname Mid-Summer Derby which signifies the importance of the 1 ¼-mile contest.
This year the $1.25 million, Grade 1 Travers drew an exceptionally strong field of eight including Grade 2 Jim Dandy Winner FIERCENESS, Grade 1 Haskell Winner DORNOCH.
Filly THORPEDO ANNA, who is coming off a spacious Win in the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks and will attempt to become the first filly to Win the Mid-Summer Derby since 1915.
The Travers depth doesn’t end there as the Jim Dandy runner-up and 3rd place finishers, SIERRA LEONI and BATTEN DOWN are also entered.
The one-two finishers in the Curlin Stakes last month, UNMATCHED WISDOM and CORPORATE POWER are giving the Travers a go as well.
HONOR MARIE rounds out the field off a rallying 4th-place effort in the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes when last seen in June.
Not only is the 2024 Travers a compelling, competitive horse race, but storylines abound:
DORNOCH can pretty-much clinch the champion 3-year-old male honors with a Win.
THORPEDO ANNA takes on the boys after runaway Grade 1 Wins in the Kentucky Oaks, the Acorn Stakes and the previously mentioned CC American Oaks.
Last year’s champion 2-year-old male, FIERCENESS, has a bit of an identity crisis, sometimes capable of a dominant performance while just as easily throwing a clunker. Which horse shows up Saturday?
SIERRA LEONE, once considered the division leader, has only himself to blame for the lack of a career-defining Win on his résumé but he can amend that Saturday with a Win in the Travers.
The mystery of who Wins the 2024 Travers Stakes will be revealed Saturday starting at around 6:10.
Friday the Daily Racing Blog will take a look at this year’s field for the Travers.
