If you bet on horses, you cannot miss the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers Stakes on Saturday, August 24 at Saratoga Race Course! The 1 ¼-mile race for three-year-olds, often called the Midsummer Derby, is the most prestigious sophomore dirt route outside of the Triple Crown. It is also the oldest stakes race in the country for three-year-old horses.
The Travers drew a field of eight, including several of the best horses in the class. The morning-line favorite is Dornoch, who is riding high off of wins in both the Belmont Stakes and the Haskell Stakes (G1). His toughest competition includes champion and Jim Dandy (G2) winner Fierceness, the ever-consistent Sierra Leone, and the dazzling Kentucky Oaks winner Thorpedo Anna.
Will one of these proven stars win the Travers, or will one of the newer faces step forward? Keep reading to find out, and to see the best sites for betting the Travers Stakes online!
Betting the Travers Stakes Online
We would all love to travel to upstate New York for a visit to Saratoga on Travers Stakes weekend, but not all of us can. The good news is,you can be part of the action by betting the race online! Betting online at a top racebook means you can get the best odds and a trusted wagering experience from anywhere with an internet connection!
You have many choices for where to play races online, so it can seem hard to pick at first. The good news is, our betting site reviews make an informed choice easy. All of our recommended sites have great odds and trusted payouts. Each one also offers lucrative online betting incentives like deposit and sign-up bonuses, referral benefits, and even rebates that pay you for every bet you make.
Take a few minutes now to find out which racing and sports betting bonuses are the best for your playing style. Doing that now can build your bankroll by hundreds or even thousands of dollars, so it’s worth it!
2024 Travers Stakes Field
This is the official field for the 2024 Travers Stakes including post positions, trainers, jockeys, and morning-line odds for each runner:
- 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
Keep in mind that the morning line is an estimate of what the tote board will look like come post time. The morning-line price is no guarantee: if you bet the Travers Stakes from the track, you are not guaranteed these odds, but rather have to settle for whatever the odds are at post time.
Instead, maximize your profit and make things easier for you by betting the Travers Stakes online. After all, that not only means you can bet from anywhere, but online racebooks let you lock in your odds on major races just by placing a bet!
These are the odds on leading contenders for the Travers Stakes:
 |  |  | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dornoch | +250 | +400 | +250 |
| Thorpedo Anna | +300 | +300 | +300 |
| Fierceness | +300 | +400 | +300 |
| Sierra Leone | +350 | +275 | +350 |
| Unmatched Wisdom | +800 | +1000 | +800 |
Travers Stakes Handicapping
Now that you have your online betting account at the ready, it is time to get to know the main contenders for the 2024 Travers Stakes.
Travers Stakes Leading Contenders
There is quite a bit of early speed, so horse who can at least be tactical will be in a good place. Even though Thorpedo Anna has to deal with a rail draw, she is tactical enough to win a race form near the pace or a couple lengths off, as necessary. She has never run a bad race, she runs like a horse who should be fine with the extra furlong, and if things get a little tough early, she showed last out that she can overcome trouble and still shine.
In the Belmont and the Haskell, Dornoch proved that he has found his best game: he needs to be on or near the lead, but he can do the dirty work and still have enough in the tank to put up a heroic fight in the final stages of the race. The near-outside post should let him work out an outside stalking trip in this race and stay out of too much trouble at the start. He has the form and stamina, and he’ll be tough from pillar to post.
Travers Stakes Exotics Horses
Honor Marie is still looking for a signature win, but he’s a closer who keeps finding a late run. And, with all the early pace from the likes of Thorpedo Anna, Dornoch, Fierceness, Batten Down, and Unmatched Wisdom, he stands to get more to close into than he has ever had in his career. Blinkers may keep him in a bit closer range instead of dropping all the way back into the clouds, and the presence of high-percentage rider Tyler Gaffalione is another big plus.
Another horse who should benefit from the lively pace is Sierra Leone. He has never run a bad race, and you know what you’re going to get. He’ll drop well back early, he’ll make a big run around the far turn…the question is whether he’ll be his own worst enemy in the lane once again, or if he’ll finally figure it all out. He’s too short a price to love on top given the mental growing up he still needs to do, but it would be no surprise for him to get another piece of the exotics.
Travers Stakes Best Bets
Now it’s time for the fun part: placing your bet on the race! Here are your expert best bets on the 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
