With odds posted and starting positions drawn for the 150th running of the Travers Stakes Saturday, Aug. 25 at Saratoga, this renewal has the feel of a great betting race.
The top three year-old colts in the land have done little to separate themselves and the 2019 Travers Stakes odds feature a pair of favorites in Tacitus and Code of Honor - both +250 - who have held their own against the best while collecting some notable wins in the process.
At these odds, both favorites feel overbet.
Tacitus backers can point to the bad trips and near-misses the Bill Mott trainee had in both the Belmont and Jim Dandy Stakes, but this colt seems to have a knack for finding trouble.
Code of Honor, winner of the Dwyer Stakes last out, has reportedly worked well in preparation for the Travers, but this guy is a dead-closer and speed has killed on the Saratoga dirt all meet.
I like what Tax (+750) did winning the Jim Dandy over a tough-luck Tacitus, and he has the early speed to make himself dangerous against his primary rivals. Even if Mucho Gusto (+550) and Lookin at Bikinis (+2000) break ahead of Tax, this colt is tractable enough to rate behind leaders.
Mucho Gusto a serious win contender. He brings plenty of early speed to this event, and if allowed to set a soft early pace, this Bob Baffert trainee may prove to be hard to reel in. He needs to improve slightly, but if that happens look out.
Rather than make a cold-blooded play here, I'll take a stab at the exacta. I'll box Mucho Gusto and Tax and make another play with those two on top of Tacitus and Code of Honor.
My two exacta plays in the Travers Stakes will look like this:
These two 2019 Travers expert picks will cost $60 total, but smaller-budgeted player can make the same wagers for a lesser base bet. Check back often for free horse racing picks!
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