Travers Stakes 2024 News Update

By Jarrod Horak

The Grade 1 Travers Stakes will be run at Saratoga Race Course on Saturday, Aug. 24. Keep checking the Digest website for updated Travers news.

Travers Hopefuls (as of 8-14-24): 8 horse field likely

Batten Down (Junior Alvarado), Corporate Power (Javier Castellano), Dornoch (Luis Saez), Fierceness (John Velazquez), Honor Marie (Tyler Gaffalione), Sierra Leone (Flavien Prat) Thorpedo Anna (Brian Hernandez Jr), Unmatched Wisdom (Irad Ortiz Jr). 

Nominated to Travers but not running: Doc Sullivan (Albany Stakes on Aug. 25 is next), Le Dom Bro (sidelined for a month with an undisclosed problem), Seize the Grey (PA Derby next). 

Travers Hopefuls Running Styles

Early-pressing: Batten Down, Dornoch, Fierceness, Thorpedo Anna, Unmatched Wisdom

Stalk: Corporate Power

Close: Honor Marie, Sierra Leone

Latest Travers Workouts

Batten Down (3rd Jim Dandy) – 4f in 48.00 (2/13) at Saratoga on Aug. 7.  

Corporate Power (2nd Curlin Stakes) – 4f in 48.85 (9/111) at Saratoga on Aug. 11. 

Dornoch (1st Belmont & Haskell) – Breezed 4f in 47.20 (2/172) at Saratoga on Aug. 8. Out 5f in 1:00.26 and 6f in 1:14.13. In company with unraced 2-year-old. 

Fierceness (1st Jim Dandy) – Breezed 4f in 49.59 (89/172) at Saratoga on Aug. 8. In company with Grade 3 winner Surprisingly. 

Honor Marie (4th Belmont Stakes) – 4f in 48.75 (12/44) at Saratoga on Aug. 10. 

Sierra Leone (2nd Jim Dandy) – Worked at Saratoga on Aug. 10. 4f in 49.00 (18/107). Final 1/4 in 23.95 and out 5f in 1:02.12, 6f in 1:15.15, and 7f in 1:29.18. He continues to hold his form and is getting faster and more professional. 

Thorpedo Anna: She is 4-for-4 this year (G2 Fantasy, G1 Ky Oaks, G1 Acorn, G1 CCAO). Ken McPeek confirmed on July 27 that she would make her next start in the Travers (G1) on Aug. 24. She breezed 59.59 (1/4) at Saratoga on Aug. 8. The last filly to win the Travers was Lady Rotha in 1915. The last filly to try was Wonder Gadot in 2018 and she ran last. 

Unmatched Wisdom (1st Curlin Stakes) – 4f in 49.00 (45/172) at Saratoga on Aug. 8. In company with maiden Commander of Truth. Irad Ortiz Jr. will ride.