Good Magic wins the 2018 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland under Jose Ortiz. Photo: Jordan Thomson
(Breeders’ Cup Press Release) – Saratoga’s prestigious summer meets reaches a crescendo Saturday when the historic $1.25 million Travers (G1) highlights a card that is anchored by four Grade I “Win and You’re In” Challenge races and seven stakes overall. The absence of Triple Crown winner Justify leaves reigning Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) winner and 2-year-old champion GOOD MAGIC a solid 2-1 favorite, though he’ll face 10 challengers in the 1 ¼-mile “Mid-Summer Derby.”
The Travers has long been the centerpiece of the Saratoga meet, though the Sword Dancer (G1), which will offer an automatic starting berth into the Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf, Personal Ensign (Longines Distaff), Forego (Dirt Mile) and Ballerina (Filly & Mare Sprint) all rate as automatic qualifiers for the Breeders’ Cup at Churchill Downs and have lured all-star fields.
The 1 ¼-mile Travers, along with the Sword Dancer, will air live on NBC from 4:00-6:00 p.m. ET as a part of the “Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In –Presented by America’s Best Racing” program. Saturday’s race could… (more)
