Saratoga Travers Day Picks & Plays

Saratoga Travers Day Picks & Plays: After taking a break, we are back handicapping the Saratoga stakes on Saturday’s card. Most horse racing fans are eagerly awaiting the chance to watch American Pharoah in the Travers Stakes (GI), his toughest test thus far according to statistics. Besides that race, there are some other interesting stakes to enjoy. We’ve analyzed all the stakes races at Saratoga on Travers Day and put together some plays. Let’s all enjoy American Pharoah and the “Mid-Summer Derby” and hopefully win some money!

Personal Ensign S. Grade I
Race #6: 4, 2, 5
Stopchargingmaria is in the best shape of her career. In her last race, she beat Untapable, showing courage in the stretch. She should be the favorite of the race, but these short field races are always tricky. Sheer Drama is, in theory, facing a tougher field this time, but she’s literally flying in the mornings. She has the early speed to try to wire the field. Got Lucky is another stepping up in class, but the way she has been winning suggests she should be tough.

Ballerina Stakes S. Grade I
Race #7: 7
Unbridled Forever loves this distance since two of her three wins have come at over seven furlongs. She should also be able to take advantage of the expected hot pace. In my opinion, Unbridled Forever is a nice single and the key to hitting some plays.

NYRA.com King’s Bishop S. Grade I
Race #8: 5, 7, 3
Mr Z is cutting back in distance, a move that should benefit him a lot. This horse always fights with bravery, and this race shouldn’t be the exception. Holy Boss clarified all doubts regarding his distance abilities when he easily won the Amsterdam Stakes (GII). This is Holy Boss’s acid test, but he has the quality to win this race. After facing American Pharoah in the Haskell, Competitive Edge is returning to one-turn races. If he bounces back, he should be in the mix, fighting for the victory.

Forego S. Grade I
Race #9: 7, 10
Private Zone is definitely the horse to beat. He has a nice record at the distance and is working like a freak. He is the candidate to win gate-to-wire. I’m only trying to beat him with Salutos Amigos. The son of Sarasota (ARG) should run more easily at seven furlongs, and if the pace collapses, he could steal the race.

Sword Dancer S. Grade I
Race #10: 2, 5
Flintshire looks to be from another galaxy and should win this race with little effort. The only drawback is that the horse is accustomed to losing, but this field is weak for him. If he again doesn’t want to win, we could also use Twilight Eclipse, a veteran of a thousand battles who always runs very well.

Travers Stakes Grade I
Race #11: 2, 4
American Pharoah is the horse everyone is waiting to watch. The horse has done nothing wrong since his debut. He’s facing practically the same horses he has been facing lately with the exception of the renewed Texas Red. Logic indicates American Pharoah will continue his winning streak, but logic does not always the prevail. So, in this race, I’ll be using just two horses, American Pharoah and Texas Red.

Ketel One Ballston Spa S. Grade II
Race #12: 3, 1
My Miss Sophia ran a very good race in her first attempt in a graded stakes on the turf. Now, she will appreciate the cut back in distance. Tepin just missed by a nose in the Diana Stakes (GI) at a distance that she doesn’t want to run. The cut back in distance should make her very tough to beat.

Plays:
Race 6: Exacta box 4, 2, 5
Daily Double
6) 4, 2, 5
7) 7
Pick 3
7) 7
8) 5, 7, 3
9) 7, 10

See Full Travers Stakes Odds