It's the Midsummer Derby, a 1 1/4-mile test over ancient Saratoga's dirt. It's named for attorney William Travers (1819-1887), a Wall Street financier and the track's first president. His colt Kentucky won the race's inaugural running in 1864, and on Saturday it will be staged for the 156th time.
The Travers Stakes (G1) has exalted obscure longshots and taken down immortals, including 2015 Triple Crown hero American Pharoah, who lost to deep closer Keen Ice at odds of 3-10.
Coincidentally, this Travers' “sure thing”, Sovereignty, is virtually the same price (2-5) on the morning line. He's trying to become the first to sweep the Kentucky Derby (G1), Belmont Stakes (G1) and Travers since Thunder Gulch did it in 1995. The others who hit that rare trifecta were Twenty Grand (1931), Triple Crown champion Whirlaway (1941) and Shut Out (1942).
Sovereignty's Hall of Fame trainer, Bill Mott, is confident but isn't making any guarantees about one of the few major stakes he hasn't won.
“I think he looks very much like he did going into the Belmont,” Mott said. “But there's always somebody in there that can run. It is not a done deal.”
For those who like to bet on horse racing, here are some observations about the Travers (post time 6:14 p.m. ET).
Surging colt comes in off a wire-to-wire romp by 9 1/4 lengths in the Iowa Derby, his first race since a similar runaway in the Risen Star Stakes (G2) in February. A knee chip ended his Triple Crown campaign, so he's fresh, improving and the lone speed. Major negative: Makes a quantum leap in class at a distance he's never tried.
He's 0-for-3 in graded stakes, winless beyond 1 1/16 miles and a strong candidate to finish last. Beaten by a combined 31 lengths in four races against Journalism, Sovereignty, Gosger and Goal Oriented. Has early zip and could bother Magnitude up front, but that's about all.
Lightly raced colt makes graded-stakes debut with strong late-pace figures, giving him a good shot at running second to Sovereignty. Had gate problems in all three starts but is a controversial disqualification and a half-length from winning them all. Should win big races but not this one.
4 SOVEREIGNTY (Junior Alvarado, Bill Mott, 2-5)
The undisputed leader of the 3-year-old class showed a new dimension by tracking the pace in the Jim Dandy instead of coming from midpack or from far back. He scared off all but four overmatched rivals who won't overthrow the king.
Betting verdict: The pick
5 MCAFEE (John Velazquez, Rick Dutrow, 20-1)
Half-brother to 2024 Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna is a major disappointment. He's 0-for-6, beaten about 27 lengths, since a winning debut but does have two seconds and a third in Grade 3 stakes. “I don't really know what his best game is,” Dutrow said, “but he's been showing up in these longer races. He's an underachiever.” Best-case scenario: A distant third.
