Travers Stakes 2023 Analysis & Video

By Jarrod Horak

The Grade 1 Travers will be run at Saratoga Race Course on Saturday, August 26. A total of seven horses will face the starter and Forte is the 7-5 morning line favorite. I will go through the best Today’s Racing Digest pace ratings and final time ratings, and my video analysis is included at the bottom of this post.   

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Grade 1 Travers – August 26 – Race 12 – 1 1/4 miles dirt

1 – Forte (7-5) 

2 – Arcangelo (5-2)

3 – Tapit Trice (12-1) 

4- Mage (4-1) 

5 – National Treasure (8-1)

6 – Disarm (8-1) 

7 – Scotland (12-1) 

Today’s Racing Digest Pace Ratings – Most Representative Line

National Treasure – 164 (Belmont Stakes)

Scotland – 161 (Curlin)

Forte – 137 (Florida Derby)

Arcangelo – 137 (MSW)

Mage – 125 (Florida Derby)

Disarm – 122 (Matt Winn)

Tapit Trice – 120 (Blue Grass)

The pace scenario is interesting. National Treasure should be prominent from the outset but he removes blinkers, and he failed to make the early lead in his other three starts without blinkers. Scotland drew the comfortable outside post and his rider Junior Alvarado should have early-pressing options. Forte added blinkers and showed improved positional speed in the Jim Dandy. He will probably save ground chasing the pace, or maybe his rider Irad Ortiz Jr. will just go on with it if the other riders are passive. Arcangelo makes his first start in 11 weeks and might be a bit keen early. He should be within hailing distance of the leaders. Mage will receive a rider change after his pilot Luis Saez was injured at Saratoga on Wednesday. He does his best running in the stretch. Late runners Disarm and Tapit Trice add blinkers in hopes of staying in contact with the early leaders.

Today’s Racing Digest Final Ratings – Most Representative Line

Forte – 147 (Florida Derby)

Scotland – 147 (Curlin)

Arcangelo – 146 (Peter Pan)

Disarm – 144 (Matt Winn)

Mage – 144 (Haskell)

National Treasure – 143 (Preakness)

Tapit Trice – 141 (Blue Grass)

There is not much separating the top contenders. Forte is back on track after a foot bruise knocked him out of the Kentucky Derby. He ran well to land the place in the Belmont considering that was his first start in 10 weeks. He showed nice determination in the Jim Dandy and seems to be sitting on a top effort. Scotland gets tested for class but has upside and should offer value. Arcangelo has had plenty of time to recover from his Belmont Stakes victory. Will he be battle ready off the bench? Disarm needs to improve his positional speed. Mage was using the Haskell as a prep for this race. He might go a bit better at this mile and a quarter contest. National Treasure should be forwardly placed in a race without much pace. Tapit Trice adds blinkers and needs to elevate his game. 

Jarrod’s Travers Picks (first to last)

1st – Forte

2nd – Scotland

3rd – Disarm

4th – Arcangelo

5th – Mage

6th – Tapit Trice

7th – National Treasure

Jarrod’s Travers Wagers

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