Sovereignty rules, indeed.
The Kentucky Derby (G1), Belmont Stakes (G1), and Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) winner will face just four challengers in the $1.25 million Travers Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course on Saturday (Aug. 23).
The five-horse field is the smallest since 1994, when Holy Bull took on three rivals. None of the 3-year-olds Sovereignty defeated this year in his four graded stakes wins are in the field.
Sovereignty was made the 2-5 favorite by NYRA oddsmaker David Aragona and leaves from gate 4 under Junior Alvarado. The 3-year-old Into Mischief colt is trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott.
Magnitude, who romped in the Risen Star Stakes (G2) but sustained an injury and missed the Triple Crown races, comes into the Travers off a return win in the Iowa Derby and is the 2-1 second choice.
Strategic Focus, third in the Curlin Stakes at Saratoga on July 24, is 6-1 in just the fourth race of his career. Chad Brown trains the Gun Runner colt, who leaves from gate 3.
McAfee and Bracket Buster have not won a graded stakes race and are 20-1 on the morning line.
The Travers, aka the Midsummer Derby, is the most important race of the summer for 3-year-olds and often helps determine Horse of the Year. This one, though, could be a tour de force if Sovereignty runs his race.
Two of his top rivals this year, Journalism and Baeza, are staying in California and likely will run next in the Pacific Classic (G1) on Aug. 30 at Del Mar, the site of the Breeders’ Cup on Oct. 31-Nov. 1.
Journalism won the Preakness Stakes (G1) and Haskell Stakes (G1) and ran second in the Derby and the Belmont Stakes; Baeza ran third in the Derby and the Belmont and second in the Jim Dandy Stakes.
The Travers is the centerpiece of Saturday’s blockbuster 14-race card that includes five Grade 1 stakes, including three Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In’’ races.
The Spa will be buzzing with excitement all day in the races leading up to the Travers. While the Travers is not a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In" race, three Grade 1s on the undercard are: the $600,000 Personal Ensign Stakes (G1) featuring Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna; the $500,000 Ballerina Handicap (BC Filly & Mare Sprint); and the $500,000 Forego Stakes at 7 furlongs for 4-year-olds and up.
Also Saturday, there’s the $500,000 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial for 3-year-olds going 7 furlongs.
Sovereignty posted his final breeze before the Travers on Saturday (Aug. 16) at Saratoga. With exercise rider Neil Poznansky aboard, Sovereignty worked 5 furlongs in 1:00.82.
“I thought that went well,” Mott said. “It was something very similar [to] or what we wanted - a decent five-eighths.”
Sovereignty has earned more than $5 million this year with a resume of 8-5-2-0.
“We’re not taking anything for granted,” Mott said as he seeks his first Travers win (he’s been second three times). “The horse has to show up and run a big race if he is going to win.”
Strategic Focus also worked Saturday, covering 5 furlongs in 1:01.20 for trainer Chad Brown.
“He worked great,” Brown said. “Excellent, and exactly what I wanted to see – he worked five-eighths and galloped out in 1:13 and change.”
Strategic Focus will be fitted with blinkers for the Travers.
Magnitude, trained by Steve Asmussen, won the Iowa Derby by 9 ¼ lengths on July 5. He won the Risen Star by 9 ¾ lengths on Feb. 15.
A field of seven has been entered for the 1 1/8-mile Personal Ensign, one of the premier races for older fillies and mares, with Thorpedo Anna the likely favorite.
Thorpedo Anna, trained by Kenny McPeek, worked 4 furlongs in 48.28 on Saturday over Saratoga’s Oklahoma training track.
“I thought it was brilliant, perfect,” McPeek said. “I told him 9the exercise rider) to go 48 and change, and she looked happy as ever.”
Thorpedo Anna, who will be ridden by Brian Hernandez, Jr. out of gate 7, comes into the Personal Ensign off a win in the Fleur de Lis (G2) on June 28.
A year ago, Thorpedo Anna was a star at the Spa, winning the Acorn Stakes (G1) and the Coaching Club of American Oaks (G1) before finishing a closing second to Fierceness in the Travers.
Among the challengers are Grade 1 winners Randomized (post 1) and Raging Sea (post 3) for trainer Chad Brown. Randomized won the Molly Pitcher Stakes (G3) on July 19, while Raging Sea looks to win the Personal Ensign a second year in a row. She was third in her last two races, the Ogden Phipps (G1) and the Shuvee Stakes (G2) on July 18.
Also entered are Dazzling Moves, Dorth Vader, Bernietakescharge, and Leslie’s Rose.
The Allen Jerkens drew a contentious field of eight, including Chancer McPatrick, Barnes, Madaket Road, and Patch Adams.
Chancer McPatrick, a top 2-year-old last year, comes into the race off a win in the Curlin Stakes. He leaves from post 4.
Barnes, a serious Derby contender who did not make the Triple Crown races, is scheduled for his first start for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert since running fourth in the Santa Anita Derby (G1) in April. Barnes drew post 3.
Also entered: Midland Monkey, Verifire, Smoken Wicked, and Captain Cook.
A large field of 11 is set for the Forego, led by Book’em Danno (post 4) and Mullikin (post 7). The rest of the field: Most Wanted, Bishop’s Bay, Full Moon Madness, Extra Anejo, Crazy Mason, Scotland, Over and Ollie, Hold My Bourbon, and Doc Sullivan.
