Horse Racing Odds: Travers Stakes Picks; Can Filly Thorpedo Anna Beat The Boys?
Is the horse of the year a filly? Thorpedo Anna is 3-1 in Travers odds as she challenges the boys for the first time in the 155th Travers Stakes on Saturday. It’s beyond ideal. It’s perfect. The “Mid-Summer Derby” at Saratoga hits the rare sweet spot for both purists and gamblers. Bettors embrace the heavyweights of the three-year-old thoroughbred racing circuit (both male and female) clashing in this $1.25 million, 1 1/4-mile showcase with post time at about 6:10 p.m. ET.
Before considering Travers bets, a huge FanDuel Racing promo is available to new users: up to a $500 No Sweat Win Bet. Even FanDuel Sportsbook users who have not used FanDuel Racing are eligible.
2024 Travers Stakes Post Positions & Morning Line Odds
Here’s a look at it the contestants after the draw. Odds become official at post time, per pari-mutuel rules. Bettors can watch a stacked, all-day card on FanDuel TV.
| Horse | Odds | Trainer | Jockey | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thorpedo Anna | 3-1 | Ken McPeek | Brian Hernandez Jr |
| 2 | Sierra Leone | 7-2 | Chad Brown | Flavien Prat |
| 3 | Unmatched Wisdom | 8-1 | Chad Brown | Irad Ortiz |
| 4 | Corporate Power | 15-1 | Claude McGaughey | Javier Castellano |
| 5 | Batten Down | 20-1 | Bill Mott | Jr. Alvarado |
| 6 | Honor Marie | 20-1 | Whitworth Beckman | Tyler Gaffalione |
| 7 | Dornoch | 5-2/a> | Danny Gargan | Luis Saez |
| 8 | Fierceness | 3-1 | Todd Pletcher | John Velazquez |
Thorpedo Anna: Top Filly In The Country
Purists love the sportsmanship angle championed by Kenny McPeek. He entered Thorpedo Anna, the top filly in the country. McPeek is already a folk hero for saddling Kentucky Derby-winning Mystik Dan this year and by throwing filly Swiss Skydiver in with the boys at the 2020 Preakness. Swiss Skydiver not only romped but nearly broke the stakes record held by the immortal Secretariat.
Belmont and Haskell Stakes-winning Dornoch, Jim Dandy champion Fierceness and Kentucky Derby runner-up Sierra Leone clash in an ideal setting. All are capable of prevailing, and very little separates them on paper.
Saturday Saratoga Race Schedule Is Loaded
Want to see how the track is playing and wager on some superb racing? Here’s the lineup of the supporting cast:
- Grade 1 $750,000 — Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer
- Grade 1 $500,000 — Forego
- Grade 1 $500,000 — Ballerina
- Grade 1 $500,000 — H. Allen Jerkens Memorial
The card overall awards well over $4 million in purses, one of the tops in the industry all year.
What TO Know About each Horse Before Betting Travers Odds
1. Thorpedo Anna (3-1)
Oh, baby, what a filly. She has six wins in seven starts, with four straight triumphs. She recently prevailed handily in the Kentucky Oaks, the Acorn, and the Coaching Club American Oaks races, primarily as a front-end threat. Stretches out to 1 1/4 miles for the first time. Will be solidly placed for a rail trip. Wants to gain position from the rail without being used early.
Jockey Brian Hernandez is having a magical year and is gaining his due as a great rider. The last filly to win the Travers was Lady Rotha, all the way back 1915. No fillies have been entered since 2018. This lady is a champ, but the feeling is she’ll have to improve a little to beat the boys.
2. Sierra Leone (7-2)
The darling of key-entry bettors can’t get to the wire first in major races. Couldn’t catch up with Dornoch in the Belmont Stakes. Drew even with a peppered Fierceness, but was outgunned in the final strides of the Jim Dandy at 4-5 after inheriting a dream setup. Maybe his odds drift up high enough to be attractive, as Dornoch and Fierceness have both nipped him.
Should once again benefit from a pace quarrel, perhaps involving Dornoch, Batten Down, Unmatched Wisdom, Thorpedo Anna and Fierceness. Sometimes a horse will get that little extra after bettors have soured on him. Must always rally from another zip code and this track doesn’t favor that style. Still, the best closer, seeking to snap bridesmaid status. Would only need an uptick of improvement to do it. A must for in the money.
3. Unmatched Wisdom (8-1)
Unmatched is right. A blazing 5-for-5 in his young career, although the highest effort was the $135,000 Curlin. While his Curlin victory was about one second slower than the Jim Dandy over a similar distance, his 23.2 opening quarter was faster. This horse has a chance to be a speed bullet. Does he impact Dornoch, Fierceness and Sierra Leone. Flavien Prat, who rode him in the Curlin, is aboard Sierra Leone here. But Unmatched Wisdom gets Irad Ortiz, a healthy show of faith.
4. Corporate Power (15-1)
Made a game effort of it in the Curlin, going all out in an attempt to run down Unmatched Wisdom. Obtained a good, hard-fought second. Like Unmatched Wisdom, a horse to watch when he drops back down in company. But at this level, he looks outgunned.
5. Batten Down (20-1)
Ran the race of his life in the Jim Dandy, breaking an alert third and making a bold move around the turn. Was right there with Fierceness and Sierra Leone before giving way. Must stretch out to new distance, but exotics players might be licking their chops to put him at the bottom of the ticket.
6. Honor Marie (20-1)
Loves to run late, but has had many bites at this rallying apple during the Triple Crown season. Ran a credible fourth in the Belmont Stakes and figures to stalk a weakened pace again. His bettors can figure on ideal rallying conditions. What’s hard to believe is the idea that he can improve enough to take advantage.
7. Dornoch (5-2)
Like that old song says, “When You’re Hot, You’re Hot.” Brilliant performance to win the Belmont over this Saratoga surface at 1 1/4 miles, same as this race, and then the Haskell at Monmouth Park in New Jersey. The last two races have been eye-popping. Makes all the sense in the world.
Will be forwardly placed, and has Fierceness to his immediate outside. His backers hope the two outside horses don’t compromise each other. One thing working for him is the ability to fight. Does some of his best running when opponents come up on him.
8. Fierceness (3-1)
The ultimate in-and-outer. Compromised in the Kentucky Derby speed duel and finished out of it. He came back in the Jim Dandy, weathered early pressure, and then outran Sierra Leone to the wire. Maybe the one to grab the lead. Major question will be at what price down the lane.
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Pace SCenarios
Positioning is vital on a track that favors speed. The last horse to come from well off the pace and win was Code of Honor in 2019. The last four winners – Tiz the Law (2020), Essential Quality (2021), Epicenter (2022), and Arcangelo (2023) – broke on or near the lead.
That could be good news for Dornoch and Fierceness, who always break alertly and will run right next to each other here. Thorpedo Anna wants to be near it, and Unmatched Wisdom should make it a speed party.
This pace scenario would normally be great news for Sierra Leone, but his deep-closing style has yet to fit this surface.
My Bets For Travers Odds
Want to find an edge? You need a razor!
Dornoch, Fierceness, and Sierra Leone are between 101 and 103 on Beyer Speed Figures for their last race. You can see a path to victory for all of them. Even Thorpedo Anna could be dangerous with the right trip.
I will put a small win bet on No. 7 Dornoch on the momentum theory. Would suggest Sierra Leone as a key in exotics.
A few Saratoga railbirds have told The Lines they are going to play the four favorites in a Pick 5 and just enjoy the race. They’d rather avoid blowing up that ticket on a race that’s difficult to call.
That’s not a bad way to go, either, as this is the tightest Travers on paper in a long time.
Good luck finding your razor’s edge in Travers odds. This is an awesome race.
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