2024 Travers Stakes Picks and Betting Odds: Thorpedo Anna Takes on the Boys in a Summer Blockbuster

Travers Stakes 2024 Odds

The following odds for Travers Stakes 2024 at Saratoga are provided by author Brian Zipse. Take a look below and place your bets at Twinspires where you can claim a $200 Sign-Up Offer.

My Top 4 Picks to Win the Travers Stakes

Corporate Power

In a wide open edition of the Travers, I am going to look for some great value with this regally bred son of Curlin. Improving with every start, he gives every indication of a colt who should appreciate every inch of the 1 1/4-miles of the Travers. Most recently a strong closing second behind the undefeated Unmatched Wisdom, he earned good experience over the Saratoga track. In his start before that, he finished with a rush to win the Sir Barton Stakes at Pimlico.

Because of how strong a race this edition of the Travers is, Corporate Power should have very attractive odds nearing the 20/1 range. I believe his chances to run a big race on Saturday are much better than that. Two other factors in his favor are trainer Shug McGaughey and rider Javier Castellano. They are two of the most successful participants in the race’s history and both easily lead this year’s field of trainers and jockeys. Taking the attractive odds into play, Corporate Power is my top pick.

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Thorpedo Anna

No filly has won the Travers in more than a hundred years. This talented daughter of Fast Anna could be the one to break that very long trend. Taking on such a strong field of males is never easy for a young filly, but she is that good. She has dominated her own sex in all four starts this year, winning the Grade 2 Fantasy, Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks, Grade 1 Acorn, and Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks by a combined 18 3/4-lengths without barely breaking a sweat. 

Breaking from the rail on Saturday, the Kenny McPeek-trainee will need to use her good tactical speed to find a comfortable spot, with plenty of quality speed to her outside. When the real running begins, look for rider Brian Hernandez, Jr. to ask her to show off her turn of foot. I fully expect her to have every chance at the head of the stretch. The distance is a question, as she has never been behind 9-furlongs before, but overall, she is clearly one of the ones to beat.

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Dornoch

The current leader of the 3-year-old male division, this handsome son of Good Magic will look to join Point Given and become only the second horse in history to sweep the Belmont, Haskell, and Travers Stakes. Trained by Danny Gargan, he will be ridden once again by Luis Saez. The pair will have their work cut out for them from the start, as the speedy 2-year-old champion will break just to his outside. 

Assuming that he can get a good position on or near the lead heading into the first turn, without having to run too fast to do it, Dornoch will become a huge threat to win his third consecutive big race. Of the confirmed speed, I do prefer him to Fierceness, but both will have to work hard to go all the way. Given how brave and game this horse has proven to be, and having won the Belmont over this track and distance, he is certainly a major threat.

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Sierra Leone

While the three favorites all like to be close early, this son of Gun Runner does his best running from well behind. A two-time graded stakes winner this year, he has lost his last three races, but in each the Kentucky Derby, Belmont, and Jim Dandy, he made up plenty of ground to get involved in the late stages. Is the race that he can finally break through and get back to the winner’s circle? Ten furlongs with good early speed to run at certainly makes him a player. 

In his two previous races at the distance, Sierra Leone lost the Kentucky Derby by a diminishing nose and faced a speed favoring track when third in the Belmont. I believe his chances come down to how much Thorpedo Anna, and Dornoch, Fierceness soften each other up early. If the pace is taxing, this Chad Brown-trained late runner will be coming on strongly to pick up the pieces.

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My Picks for the Travers Stakes - Best Bets to Make 

$5 Daily Double = $40 

1st Leg (Race 12) - World Record and Book’em Danno

2nd Leg (Race 13) - Corporate Power, Thorpedo Anna, Dornoch, and Sierra Leone

$10 Exacta Part Wheel = $30

1st Corporate Power 

2nd  Thorpedo Anna, Dornoch, and Sierra Leone

$10 Exacta Part Wheel = $30

1st Thorpedo Anna, Dornoch, and Sierra Leone 

2nd Corporate Power 

$2 Trifecta Box = $48

1st Corporate Power, Thorpedo Anna, Dornoch, and Sierra Leone 

2nd Corporate Power, Thorpedo Anna, Dornoch, and Sierra Leone 

3rd Corporate Power, Thorpedo Anna, Dornoch, and Sierra Leone 

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How to Watch the Travers Stakes 2024

• What: Travers Stakes (Grade 1) 

• Location: Saratoga

• Time: Saturday, August 24 at 6:10 pm ET

• How to Watch: Fox

• Purse: $1,250,000