Betting the Travers on a $20 Budget
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Wicked Strong (above winning the Jim Dandy Stakes) should be tough in the Travers Stakes on Saturday at Saratoga Race Course. (Photo by NYRA/Adam Mooshian)
This year’s Travers Stakes is shaping up to be an ultra-competitive race and I can’t wait. Hopefully, the weather clears up and we get another beautiful Saturday at the Spa for the “Mid-Summer Derby”.
Recent history has shown the key prep race has been the Jim Dandy Stakes, and this year should be no different.
The 1-2 finishers should be hard to separate come Saturday, but I give the value play to Wicked Strong. With blinkers on last time, he showed another dimension being closer to the pace than ever.
Belmont Stakes winner Tonalist was not disgraced running second in an obvious prep race for the Travers and “left something in the tank” for this extra eighth-of-a-mile stretch run.
Turf standout Mr Speaker obviously had other options on the grass, such as the Grade 1 Secretariat Stakes for 3-year-olds last week at Arlington Park, so his connections appear to be confident he can run well on the main track for the Travers. He should have no problem navigating the distance and could be the longshot horse to make a nice exacta or trifecta.
Last, but not least, I have to mention probable race-time favorite Bayern, who has run spectacular back-to-back races, winning both by daylight. The questions here are: shipping, distance and the potential to bounce (perform below expectations following a taxing race). I’ll be using him under in my exactas and trifectas.
Looking forward to seeing what colors the Travers canoe will be painted this weekend!
Vick’s Picks: #7 Wicked Strong, #6 Tonalist, #10 Mr Speaker, #2 Bayern
Strategy A: $10 win/place on #7 Wicked Strong = $20
Strategy B: $10 exacta box: 6,7 = $20
Strategy C:
$2 trifecta part wheel: 6,7 with 6,7 with 2,10 ($8)
$2 trifecta part wheel: 6,7 with 2,10 with 6,7 ($8)
AND $1 trifecta part wheel: 2,10 with 6,7 with 6,7 ($4)
$1,250,000 Travers StakesSaturday, Saratoga Race Course, Race 12, 5:45 p.m. ET1 1/4 miles, dirt, 3-year-oldsTelevision coverage begins at 4:30 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network
PP
Horse
Jockey
Trainer
Morning Line
1
Commanding Curve
Shaun Bridgmohan
Dallas Stewart
15-1
2
Bayern
Martin Garcia
Bob Baffert
2-1
3
Charge Now
Junior Alvarado
Bill Mott
15-1
4
V. E. Day
Javier Castellano
Jimmy Jerkens
15-1
5
Viva Majorca
Julien Leparoux
Ian Wilkes
20-1
6
Tonalist
Joel Rosario
Christophe Clement
3-1
7
Wicked Strong
Rajiv Maragh
Jimmy Jerkens
7-2
8
Kid Cruz
Irad Ortiz Jr.
Linda Rice
12-1
9
Ulanbator
Brian Hernandez Jr.
Ian Wilkes
30-1
10
Mr Speaker
Jose Lezcano
Shug McGaughey
10-1