The Jury: Expert Picks, Bets, and Fades for Aug. 21

The TwinSpires Jury of Ashley Anderson, James Scully, and Darin Zoccali debate their best bets for the Travers Day undercard at Saratoga.

The $1.25 million Travers (G1) drew a field of five for the 156th running of the premier three-year-old race, with Kentucky Derby (G1) and Belmont (G1) hero Sovereignty the 2-5 favorite.

The top three-year-old in the country will meet Risen Star (G2) victor Magnitude, whose frontrunning style may benefit the Steve Asmussen trainee in the 1 1/4-mile test. Other challengers include Haskell (G1) fourth-place finisher Bracket Buster, the lightly raced Strategic Focus, and West Virginia Derby (G3) runner-up McAfee.

While the Travers field came up a bit short, the undercard is ripe with enticing wagering opportunities in a number of wide-open races. The Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens, a seven-furlong sprint, attracted eight sophomores, including three from Bob Baffert's barn — graded stakes winner Barnes, Woody Stephens (G1) runner-up Madaket Road, and recent allowance romper Midland Money.

The winner of the Woody Stephens, Patch Adams drew the rail and will look to score his third straight victory and second at the Spa. His stablemate Verifire is among his top competition. The Authentic colt is unbeaten from three starts and succeeded in his stakes debut with a 2 3/4-length tally over runner-up Smoken Wicked, another in the field who is coming off a 5 3/4-length win in the 6 1/2-furlong Amsterdam (G2).

After the Allen Jerkens, fillies and mares compete in the seven-furlong Ballerina (G1), a Breeders' Cup Win and You're In for the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1). Speedy Quality Road filly Hope Road will try to overcome her outside draw, while morning-line favorite Scylla is in search of her first win in six starts.

Then in Race 12, 11 older sprinters are set to contest the seven-furlong distance, with Book'em Danno the 8-5 morning-line favorite. The four-year-old gelding is 3-for-4 at Saratoga and won his last two starts, both at the Spa — the 6 1/2-furlong True North (G3) and six-furlong Alfred G. Vanderbilt (G2).

The feature race, The Travers, is the 13th race on the 14-race program, which includes six total graded stakes.