Odds, horse-by-horse analysis for 2021 Travers Stakes

Michael “The Wizard” Kipness has been a nonrecreational equine racing handicapper since 1987 and has been featured successful The New York Times.

From Saratoga Race Course, the Las Vegas nonmigratory (@WizardPicks) analyzes the seven-horse tract successful Saturday’s 152nd Travers Stakes, designating each equine arsenic a contender oregon a pretender.

Kipness’ afloat paper selections and wagering strategies for the Travers — aka the Midsummer Derby — are disposable astatine wizardraceandsports.com.

Post position, horse, jockey, odds:

1. Midnight Bourbon, Ricardo Santana Jr., 9-2

Clipped heels successful the stretch, losing his rider successful the Haskell. Clearly 2nd champion successful the Preakness. Breaking from the obstruction successful the Travers, expect rider Ricardo Santana to discarded nary clip putting him connected the lead. The main obstacle is if helium tin transportation his velocity 1¼ miles. Gets an upgrade successful riders to Ricardo Santana, who is Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen’s main go-to jock. Contender.

2. Essential Quality, Luis Saez, 4-5

The deserving favourite has won 7 of his 8 starts, with his lone blemish a precise bully 4th spot successful the Kentucky Derby. Overcame a precise pugnacious travel successful winning the Jim Dandy connected July 31 successful his archetypal commencement astatine Saratoga. Worked a superb 5 furlongs implicit this way connected Aug. 14. Has the bosom of a lion. To bushed him successful the Travers, you indispensable look him successful the oculus and beryllium you person the people and grit to fend him disconnected erstwhile the existent racing begins. Trainer Brad Cox continues to person an outstanding Saratoga meet. Contender.

3. Keepmeinmind, Joel Rosario, 6-1

Rode the obstruction successful his constrictive decision to Essential Quality successful the Jim Dandy. Enjoyed the rider power to Rosario, who had him sitting a cleanable travel throughout. He had each accidental to upset the favourite that day. He could not, and it’s doubtful that he’ll beryllium capable to replicate oregon amended connected that show successful the Travers. Pretender.

4. Dynamic One, Irad Ortiz Jr., 6-1

This colt was simply not acceptable to grip the grueling 1¼ miles successful the Kentucky Derby, finishing 18th. He was fixed 3 months off, utilizing a tiny involvement astatine Saratoga to get him acceptable for the Travers. Reunited with Ortiz Jr, helium was taken backmost to the rear of the field. When Ortiz asked him to marque his move, Dynamic One responded with a immense run, going from past to archetypal successful a blink of an eye, prevailing by 1¾ lengths. He ran his career-best contention that day, looking much physically imposing than astatine immoderate clip successful his career. Dynamic One is bred beautifully to grip 1¼ miles. He’s successful the hands of apical trainer Todd Pletcher, whose barn has been connected a rotation the past 2 weeks astatine Saratoga. Contender.

5. Miles D, Flavian Prat, 12-1

This steadily improving colt from starring Saratoga trainer Chad Brown exits a career-best race, finishing a wide 2nd to Dynamic One connected July 30 successful his archetypal commencement astatine Saratoga. With lone 3 vocation starts, Miles D is by acold the slightest experienced equine successful the Travers. The breeding is determination to grip 1¼ miles, arsenic good arsenic the hottest trainer successful the country. Brown won a full of 8 races Wednesday and Thursday astatine Saratoga. Miles D gets a rider alteration to Flavian Prat, who is 1 of the champion successful America, if not the best, and is expected to spell disconnected astatine double-digit odds. Contender.

6. Masqueparade, Miguel Mena, 8-1

Comes into the Travers successful highest signifier pursuing a brace of back-to-back wins. He has bully tactical velocity but volition person to contend with the velocity of Midnight Bourbon. Masqueparade appears overmatched and is not bred good for this distance. Pretender.

7. King Fury, Jose Ortiz, 15-1

Switches backmost to the dirt, which is intelligibly his preferred surface. King Fury has proven to beryllium a chopped beneath his Travers rivals successful erstwhile races. Trainer Ken McPeek is besides having an atrocious Saratoga meet. Pretender.