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Make no mistake, today's Travers Stakes looks to be a competition between Golden Tempo at 5-2 and Renegade at 3-1 odds. Both pay out around $250 to $300 based on a $100 bet, but odds must be locked in as they are subject to change.
The Travers Stakes is an American Grade I Thoroughbred horse race held at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York that features close to a $1.3 million purse.
The race is nicknamed the "Midsummer Derby" and is the third-ranked race for American three-year-olds according to international classifications, behind only the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes. As such, oddsmakers were anticipating heavy betting action on Saturday.
First held in 1864, it is the oldest stakes race in the United States specifically for 3-year-olds.
Golden Tempo comes into this race having won both this year's Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes.
The concern with favorite Golden Tempo is the layoff: 84 days since the Belmont, easily the longest break of his career.
Watch for where Jose Ortiz positions him. Golden Tempo doesn't want to get too far behind if the early pace is slow. At 1¼ miles, however, we already know distance isn't a problem.
The Travers 3-1 second-choice Renegade (Into Mischief), a painful runner-up in the Kentucky Derby and disappointing third-place finisher as the favorite in the Belmont Stakes, will take another shot at Golden Tempo following an eye-catching win in the Jim Dandy.
“I have always said this race is a bit different than the other races because horses do a lot of maturing throughout the summer, colts especially, so it will be interesting to see how they both (Golden Tempo and Renegade) perform,” trainer Cherie DeVaux said.
“And we have new horses in the race, too, and they weren't part of the conversation during Belmont week.”
Emerging Market, meanwhile, pays out $500 for every $100 bet with a win here as does Sea Strike.
Emerging Market won the prestigious Louisiana Derby while Sea Strike is coming off a Curlin Stakes victory.
Sea Strike has the advantage of being lightly raced coming into today's Travers Stakes.
“The horse is very talented. He’s training super. He’s got an important win over the track. He’s got a lot of things going for him, trainer Chad Brown said.
Travers Stakes Morning Odds
Horse ML Odds Quick take
Golden Tempo 5-2 Derby & Belmont winner; horse to beat
Renegade 3-1 Derby runner-up; won Jim Dandy at Saratoga
Emerging Market 5-1 Louisiana Derby winner trying to rebound
Sea Strike 5-1 Improving colt coming off Curlin Stakes win
Napoleon Solo 8-1 Preakness winner; dangerous early speed
The Puma 8-1 Tampa Bay Derby winner; 3rd in Haskell
Baby Vino 10-1 Haskell winner; three-race winning streak
Silent Tactic 10-1 3rd in Jim Dandy; interesting closer
Leading Change 12-1 Unbeaten 2-for-2; Indiana Derby winner
Ocelli 20-1 Talented but amazingly still a maiden
- Don Shapiro, Gambling911.com
