Travers Stakes 2023: Post positions, odds, analysis with Forte the 7/5 favorite
There has been a different winner in each of the 10 open Grade 1 races for 3-year-olds in 2023.
So yes, there's a divisional championship to be won, and it starts with Saturday's $1.25 million Travers Stakes at Saratoga Race Course, with a strong field of contenders in the 154th renewal looking to separate themselves from the pack in the quest for year-end glory.
Highlighting the storylines in the race dubbed the "Midsummer Derby" are a trio of Classic winners, with Kentucky Derby winner Mage, Preakness winner National Treasure and Belmont Stakes winner Arcangelo all expected to be in the starting gate. It's the first time since 2017 all three Triple Crown race winners have been in the field.
Also in the field is Forte, the pre-race favorite in the Kentucky Derby, scratched the morning of the race with a bruised foot, who many feel is still the class of the division.
It's only fitting that it should all play out over 10 furlongs at historic Saratoga, in a race first run in 1864.
The Travers Stakes will be televised on FOX, with Travers Day coverage from Saratoga from 3-6:30 p.m.
Here's the field with post positions and morning-line odds for this year's Travers:
1. Forte 7/5
Trainer: Todd Pletcher.
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.
Owners: Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable.
Bounced back from a second-place finish in the Belmont Stakes, snapping a five-race winning streak dating back to a 2-year-old championship season, by winning the Jim Dandy last month with a 105 Beyer Speed Figure, beating Saudi Crown by a nose after a rough stretch run. Likely to go postward as the favorite.
2. Arcangelo 5/2
Trainer: Jena Antonucci
Jockey: Javier Castellano.
Owner: Blue Rose Farm.
The decision to train Arcangelo up to the Travers after Antonucci became the first woman to win a Triple Crown race in the Belmont Stakes means an 11-week layoff between races. The colt will have five workouts at Saratoga to bridge the gap since beating Forte by 1 ½ lengths.
3. Tapit Trice 12-1
Trainer: Todd Pletcher.
Jockey: Jose Ortiz.
Owners: Whisper Hill Farm, Gainesway Stable
One of the more disappointing runners in the 3-year-old division since winning the Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes, including a fifth-place finish in the Haskell last time out, beaten seven lengths by Geaux Rocket Ride. Jose Ortiz gets his first mount on the $1.3 million yearling purchase.
4. Mage 4-1
Trainer: Gustavo Delgado.
Jockey: Luis Saez.
Owners: OGMA Investments, Ramiro Restrepo, Sterling Racing and CMNWLTH.
Mage’s last four starts have been really good, losing to Forte by a length in the Florida Derby, winning the Kentucky Derby, running a good third in the Preakness and finishing second in the Haskell. It’s hard to imagine this hard-runner finishing off the board.
5. National Treasure 8-1
Trainer: Bob Baffert.
Jockey: John Velazquez.
Owners: SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stable, and others.
When allowed to sit on the lead uncontested, the result was a wire-to-wire victory in the Preakness. But was unable to repeat that performance in the 12-furlong Belmont Stakes, fading to sixth after setting the early pace. Expect Velazquez to try to get out quickly and steal this one.
6. Disarm 8-1
Trainer: Steve Asmussen.
Jockey: Joel Rosario.
Owner: Winchell Thoroughbreds.
After following up a fourth-place finish in the Kentucky Derby by winning the Grade 3 Matt Winn Stakes, Disarm ran fourth in the Jim Dandy, finishing 2 ¼ lengths behind Forte. Likes to come from off the pace, and will benefit from a fast pace up front.
7. Scotland 12-1
Trainer: Bill Mott.
Jockey: Junior Alvarado.
Owners: LNJ Foxwoods.
Figures to be the longest shot on the board, but could be a factor. Went wire-to-wire in the nine-furlong Curlin Stakes at Saratoga on July 21, beating Blazing Sevens, second behind National Treasure, beaten a head, in the Preakness, while beating Mage.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Travers Stakes 2023: Betting guide, post positions, odds and analysis
