The 155th running of the $1.25 million Travers Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course on Saturday (Aug. 24), aka the “Midsummer Derby,” is considered the marquee race of the summer. A field of eight 3-year-olds was entered on Sunday. usracing.com is publishing profiles of the contenders.
2024 Travers Stakes Contenders: DORNOCH
History tells us that since 1961, seven winners of the Haskell Stakes have used the race as their final prep for the Travers Stakes, most recently Point Given in 2001.
Dornoch. NYRA Photo.
Saturday, Dornoch will try to complete the Belmont-Haskell-Travers triple, a feat so rare that only one other horse has done it, that being Point Given. Incidentally, the Travers was Point Given’s fourth straight win in a $1 million race, having also taken the Preakness Stakes.
Although favored at 5-2, Dornoch is facing a very tough field in the 1 ¼-mile “Midsummer Derby,” among them last year’s 2-year-old champ Fierceness, who won the Jim Dand at the Spa on July 27; Sierra Leone, aka the “Heartbreak Kid,” who was second in the Kentucky Derby, third in the Belmont and second in the Jim Dandy, and the current leader in the NTRA’s Top 10 Thoroughbred poll, Thorpedo Anna, who is undefeated in four starts this year and will be making her first start against the boys. (She gets a five-pound weight allowance, by the way).
“It’s hard to win three Grade 1s in a row, and [this] is a really tough race,” said trainer Danny Gargan. “I thought this year’s colts were really strong. The filly is special, and she’s as good as anybody.
“Sierra Leone is as good as any horse in 10 years, it’s just unfortunate he’s found a year when there’s a lot of horses that are good. And Fierceness, if he shows up, he’s spectacular. If he shows up, we’re all in trouble.”
Dornoch, who closed out his juvenile campaign with a victory over Sierra Leone in the Remsen, took the Fountain of Youth in his first start of 2024, then tallied up a fourth in the Blue Grass Stakes and a troubled 10th in the Kentucky Derby.
Dismissed at 17-1 in the Belmont, run at 1 ¼ miles at the Spa, he dug in to come back and win by a half-length over Mindframe and ran almost the same race to take the Haskell, this time by 1 ¼ lengths.
“If Dornoch can win this race,” said Gargan, “it would be a big deal.”
2024 Travers Stakes Odds, Post Positions and Predictions: Dornoch
Betting advice: He’s been up to the task in the Belmont and Haskell and will fight to the finish. Must be in play for the win.
Post Position: 7
Odds: 5-2
Jockey: Luis Saez
Trainer: Danny Gargan
Owners: West Paces Racing, R.A. Hill Stable, Belmar Racing and Breeding, Two Eight Racing, Pine Racing Stables
Career record: 9-5-2-0
Career earnings: $2,352,275
Last race: Haskell Stakes (1st)
Top Equibase speed figure: 107
Pedigree: Good Magic-Puca, by Big Brown
Color: Bay
Running style: Stalker/frontrunner.
Notes: Dornoch has his final tune-up for the Travers on Aug. 17, traveling a half-mile in 47.65 seconds, 14th of 161 works at the distance on Saratoga’s main track …. It was his seventh published workout at the Spa, having been based there since late May … “He likes it here,” said Gargan. … Full-brother to 2023 Derby winner Mage, Dornoch is 1-for-2 at Saratoga, having finished second to eventual Preakness winner Seize the Grey in his first outing last July 29.
2024 Travers Stakes Odds
| 1 | Thorpedo Anna | 3-1 | Brian Hernandez | Kenny McPeek |
| 2 | Sierra Leone | 7-2 | Flavien Prat | Chad Brown. |
| 3 | Unmatched Wisdom | 8-1 | Irad Ortiz, Jr. | Chad Brown |
| 4 | Corporate Power | 15-1 | Javier Castellano | Shug McGaughey |
| 5 | Batten Down | 20-1 | Junior Alvarado | Bill Mott |
| 6 | Honor Marie | 20-1 | Tyler Gaffalione | Whit Beckman |
| 7 | Dornoch | 5-2 | Luis Saez | Danny Gargan |
| 8 | Fierceness | 3-1 | John Velazquez | Todd Pletcher |