The $1.25 million Travers Stakes, better known as the Mid-Summer Derby, returns to Saratoga on Saturday, August 23rd, and as usual, the race draws some of the very best 3-year-olds in the country. A staple on the racing calendar since 1864, the Travers is a 1 1/4-mile Grade 1 run over dirt, and in many years, it serves as a key preview of the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
Although only five horses are entered in this 2025 edition, quality takes precedence over quantity. We have the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Sovereignty, breakout star Magnitude, and an intriguing lightly raced colt from Chad Brown in Strategic Focus. All three bring different strengths to the race: speed, stamina, and upside, and with Saratoga’s tricky dirt surface and rain in the forecast, it’s shaping up to be a fascinating betting race.
These are the three best bets for the 2025 Travers Stakes.
There’s no such thing as a “sure thing” in horse racing, but Sovereignty is about as close as it gets. The Godolphin homebred has five wins from eight starts, with his only loss this year coming in the Florida Derby, where he ran second after a wide trip. Since then, he’s rattled off wins in the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Jim Dandy, beating every top rival in the division along the way, including Journalism, Baeza, and Rodriguez.
Trainer Bill Mott has never won the Travers, but with Sovereignty, this might be his best chance. The son of Into Mischief has demonstrated versatility in his running style, as he can press the pace, stalk off it, or even make a first-over move. That makes him incredibly dangerous in a small field where there may not be much pace. He also has experience running on wet tracks and has proven capable of sustaining his kick over a mile and a quarter, essential traits for Saratoga’s deep, demanding surface.
>>> Check Sovereignty's Travers Stakes Contender Profile.
In the Jim Dandy, Sovereignty got exactly the kind of prep you want heading into a race like this. He was asked for a serious effort, responded like a pro, and galloped out strongly. He’s coming into the Travers third off the layoff, which is typically when a top horse peaks. With Junior Alvarado sticking around and Godolphin aiming for an Eclipse-level campaign, all signs point to another big performance.
He’s not flashy, but he doesn’t need to be. He’s simply better than these other horses on paper, and until someone beats him, he’s the one to fear.
Verdict: Strong win candidate. A must-use in every wager, and a potential single for multi-race bets.
After missing the entire Triple Crown due to injury, Magnitude returned in July with a resounding win in the Iowa Derby, a gate-to-wire, open-length victory that announced his return in a big way. Earlier this year, he had blown the field away in the Risen Star (G2) at Fair Grounds, earning a huge speed figure and establishing himself as a real contender before being sidelined.
Now back and fully fit, the son of Not This Time is looking to build on that momentum. Steve Asmussen, who won the Travers in 2022 with Epicenter, knows how to get a horse ready for this race. The question isn’t fitness or form, it’s class.
>>> Check Magnitude's Travers Stakes Contender Profile.
In both the Risen Star and the Iowa Derby, Magnitude defeated fields that were far inferior to what Sovereignty has been up against. That’s not to knock the performances, winning by open lengths in graded company is always impressive, but other contenders like Journalism and Baeza are a different level than what Magnitude has faced.
His pace advantage may be the equalizer. In a field light on front-end speed, Magnitude could find himself on the lead again. If he gets into a rhythm and slows things down up front, he could try to steal the race, especially if the others hesitate to engage him early.
Still, Saratoga is not an easy track to wire a Grade 1 field, and he’ll need to dig deeper than he ever has before.
Verdict: Dangerous if left alone on the lead. Should be on all exacta and trifecta tickets, but tough to back over Sovereignty straight-up.
While Strategic Focus enters with the fewest starts (just three), he’s quietly put together a strong case as an improving horse with upside. Trained by Chad Brown, he broke his maiden going a mile at Aqueduct, then crossed the wire first in a two-turn allowance at Saratoga before being disqualified for interference. Last time out in the Curlin Stakes, he had the lead in the stretch before fading late to third.
There’s a clear pattern here: early speed + late fading, suggesting immaturity or a lack of focus. That’s why Brown is adding blinkers for the Travers, a move designed to help Strategic Focus finish stronger and stay engaged when it matters most. It’s a smart tweak from a trainer known for his ability to fine-tune horses ahead of big races.
>>> Check Strategic Focus' Travers Stakes Contender Profile.
Jockey Flavien Prat retains the mount, and he knows this colt well. Saratoga’s surface can be tricky for inexperienced horses, but Strategic Focus has already run well there, and the tighter five-horse field should mean a cleaner trip.
While he hasn’t yet faced the same caliber of horse as Sovereignty, he’s been progressing the right way. And if the blinkers sharpen him enough to finish with authority, he may turn the tables on more established rivals.
Strategic Focus might still be a race or two away from putting it all together, but if he does so on Saturday, he’s the one most likely to shock the favorite.
Verdict: Solid longshot with upside. Use in win/place wagers and as a vertical exotic booster.
>>> Check how to watch the Travers Stakes online and the full field odds table.
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
