Coming off an easy romp in the Haskell Invitational (G1) at Monmouth Park earlier this month, American Pharoah is back in action this Saturday in the 146th Travers Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course.
The $1.6 million, 1 1/4 mile race headlines a day stacked with seven graded stakes races at The Spa.
FREE Brisnet PPs: Travers Stakes at Saratoga
Perhaps for the last time before facing older horses, 1/5 morning line American Pharoah looks to beat down this year’s crop of three-year-olds, including Frosted (6-1) and Texas Red (8-1).
Trainer Bob Baffert is looking to improve upon his 1 for 5 record in the Travers Stakes, with his lone win being in 2001 with Point Given.
Post time for the Travers is set for 5:46 p.m. ET, and you can catch the broadcast on NBC.
| Post | Horse | Odds | Jockey |
| 1 | Upstart | 15-1 | Irad Ortiz, Jr. |
| 2 | American Pharoah | 1-5 | Victor Espinoza |
| 3 | Mid Ocean | 50-1 | Manny Franco |
| 4 | Texas Red | 8-1 | Kent Desormeaux |
| 5 | Frammento | 30-1 | Jose Ortiz |
| 6 | Frosted | 6-1 | Joel Rosario |
| 7 | Keen Ice | 12-1 | Javier Castellano |
| 8 | Tale of Verve | 30-1 | Gary Stevens |
| 9 | King of New York | 50-1 | Julien Leparoux |
| 10 | Smart Transition | 20-1 | John Velazquez |
Travers Stakes Selections courtesy of Brisnet Daily Selections
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11th SAR 1 1/4m Grade I 3yo, Purse: $1,250,000. ( 5:46)/ 4:46/ 3:46/ 2:46 Exacta, Trifecta (.50), Super (.10), Pick 3 Races (11-13), Double Wagers |
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| # | Horse | ML | Comments | |
| 2 |
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1/5 | Undefeated in his last eight starts and none closer than a length. At equal weights, this is almost unfair as he only has to beat horses that he has vanquished already. His Haskell (G1) was brilliant and he showed, once again, that he has more gears than anyone. Besides jogging home, what was awesome was the way he responded on the turn when UPSTART tried to challenge him. He is fast enough to gain early position but then switch off to use his unbelievable cruising speed to the turn for home. His workout was brilliant on Sunday and there is nothing to indicate that he can’t keep doing it. | |
| 6 |
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6/1 | Was about the only horse making up any ground on the top three finishers who all went to the front and held on. Was a good second in the Belmont, but no match for the winner, then came back in the Jim Dandy and was a game second when he spotted four pounds to the winner who got the jump on him. Usually, the Jim Dandy horses have an edge over the Haskelll ones and ten furlongs should be right up his alley. | |
| 5 |
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30/1 | Seems to be rounding back to a big effort. He looked like he would be a major 3YO when he flew home in the Fountain of Youth to be third but he was stuck on the rail in the Bluegrass Stakes (G1) then raced evenly in the Kentucky Derby (G1). In the Belmont Stakes (G1), he made a strong middle move and went by KEEN ICE only to switch off when hit left-handed. In the Jim Dandy, he ran in spurts but has trained so well since then that some thought he was breezing on Wednesday when he was just galloping. Jose Ortiz picks up the mount for Nick Zito. | |
| 4 |
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8/1 | Was a good second in the Dwyer Stakes (G1) going one turn but then won the Jim Dandy (G2) here going nine furlongs when Kent Desormeaux moved him early so that he could separate from his rivals. He has a sudden kick and even though he is picking up seven pounds, he should have no trouble with the added distance. | |