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Often called the Midsummer Derby, the Travers Stakes (G1) is the most important three-year-old dirt race of the summer, and it happens Saturday, August 24 at Saratoga Race Course! The purse for this legendary 1 ¼-mile test, the oldest three-year-old race in the country, is an amazing $1.25 million.
A field of eight of the best three-year-olds in the country has entered the Travers, a fitting group for such a rich history and a huge purse. The highlights include Kentucky Oaks winner Thorpedo Anna, Belmont Stakes and Haskell Stakes (G1) winner Dornoch, and Eclipse Award winner Fierceness.
However, given the class of the field, any of the eight contenders have a chance to run well. Knowing that, it will be one of the best horse racing betting opportunities of the summer!
Keep reading to find out the top contenders for the 2024 Travers Stakes, and the best places to bet the Travers Stakes online!
Where to Bet the Travers Stakes
Before betting a single dollar on the Travers, take a few minutes to choose the best place for you to bet horse races online. There are many options out there, but our online betting experts are here to make that choice easy! With our reviews of top sportsbooks, you can make a quick and profitable decision so you can get to the best part of all: betting racing and sports with confidence!
Every recommendation we make features the fundamentals of a great online betting experience: a smooth user interface, trusted money management features, and market-leading odds. Each betting site offers different incentives that give varying returns based on your preferred stakes and wagers. In just a few minutes our experts will help you find the sportsbook sign-up bonuses, rebates, and referral incentives that can supercharge your bankroll!
Travers Stakes Horses and Odds
This is the official field for the 2024 Travers Stakes including draw numbers, trainers, jockeys, and morning-line odds:
- Thorpedo Anna (Kenny McPeek/Brian Hernandez, Jr.) – 3/1
- Sierra Leone (Chad Brown/Flavien Prat) – 7/2
- Unmatched Wisdom (Chad Brown/Irad Ortiz, Jr.) – 8/1
- Corporate Power (Shug McGaughey/Javier Castellano) – 15/1
- Batten Down (Bill Mott/Junior Alvarado) – 20/1
- Honor Marie (Whit Beckman/Tyler Gaffalione) – 20/1
- Dornoch (Danny Gargan/Luis Saez) – 5/2
- Fierceness (Todd Pletcher/John Velazquez) – 3/1
Remember that morning lines are the track’s best guess on the odds at post time. They can be a helpful guide to horses expected to take action, but are no guarantee since odds are only final at post time if you bet the race on track.
Playing the Travers Stakes at an online sportsbook is your best bet! Online sportsbooks offer fixed-odds wagering on major horse races like the Travers Stakes, so you can guarantee yourself the best odds just by making your bet. Then, all you have to do is watch the race, knowing exactly what you’ll be paid when your horse wins!
 |  |  |
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| Dornoch | +250 | +400 | +250 |
| Thorpedo Anna | +300 | +300 | +300 |
| Fierceness | +300 | +400 | +300 |
| Sierra Leone | +350 | +275 | +350 |
| Unmatched Wisdom | +800 | +1000 | +800 |
Free Travers Stakes Picks
Now that you have your online betting account all set up, here are the horses to focus on when making your bets for the Travers Stakes!
Travers Stakes Win Candidates
Thorpedo Anna is facing males for the first time, but she has the tools to make her mark. She has speed in a race with quite a bit of it, and she has a rail post, but those things may scare off some bettors despite the fact that she has the tools to overcome it. She has been able to win races impressively despite being on or near quick, contested paces, and even if there’s a snarl early? She overcame a horrid start in the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) to win for fun.
After the Belmont, the question was whether Dornoch just got good on the right day, or if he had found his mojo again. After the Haskell, it’s pretty clear that he just has his mojo. He is a speed horse, meaning things won’t be easy with so much other pace in the race. However, he can win with an outside stalking trip, and when the going gets tough down the lane, Dornoch has already proven he can battle all the way to the end in a 1 ¼-mile race.
Underneath Contenders in the Travers Stakes
There is a possibility for a sizzling pace: Dornoch, Fierceness, Unmatched Wisdom, and Corporate Power all need to be on or near the lead, and Thorpedo Anna doesn’t usually like to be too far away, either. This gives Honor Marie an excellent upset chance. He has had trouble in his last two starts, leaving open the possibility for taking to 1 ¼ miles. And, he just always fires – meaning, if the speed gets tired, he’ll be right there for a piece.
The other one who will be finishing smartly is, of course, Sierra Leone. He never runs a bad race. The concerns are along the lines of whether he wants this kind of distance, and whether he has gotten his head straight enough to stop being his own worst enemy in the middle to late stages of the race. But, he has the quality, consistency, and running style to get a piece here.
Travers Stakes Free Picks
You’ve looked at your options and created your online betting account. You’ve gotten to know the best contenders in the field. Now it’s time for the best part: placing your bet!
These are your expert best bets for Saturday’s 2024 Travers Stakes:
- $20 to win – #1 Thorpedo Anna
- $1 exacta key – #1 Thorpedo Anna with #6 Honor Marie, #7 Dornoch
- $0.50 trifecta key – #1 Thorpedo Anna with #2 Sierra Leone, #6 Honor Marie, #7 Dornoch
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