2017 Travers Stakes Preview, Entries & Odds

OffTrackBetting.com - The much-anticipated G1 Travers Stakes goes down this Saturday, August 26 at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. Some of the best three-year olds around will take to Saratoga's dirt track and race 1 1/4 miles searching for the winner's share of the $1.25 million purse and a possible edge in this year's Eclipse Award voting.

A wide-open field of 12 will take to the track in the Travers Stakes - race 11 on Saratoga's ridiculous Saturday schedule. Post time is 5:44 PM. Here is a look into the past performances of all 12 entries for this competitive G1 stakes including all three of the 2017 Triple Crown winners.

2017 Travers Stakes Entries at Saratoga Race Course

Tapwrit 7-2

Has four wins and a second-place finish in eight career starts for trainer Todd Pletcher. He debuted with a tenth and has been decent in six starts since - a maiden October 6 was followed by a nice win in his stakes debut- the $75,000 Pulpit Stakes at Gulfstream Park December 10 and a quality second behind McCracken at 9-1 odds in the G3 Sam F. Davis Stakes February 11. He posted a terrific win in the Tampa Bay Derby March 11 and was just average in his next two starts - a sixth in the Kentucky Derby followed fifth in the G1 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland April 8. Last time out however was a superb effort - a win in the G1 Belmont Stakes June 10 - one that has him on many's radar this week. Tapwrit looks to be over his mini-slump and tries to make it two straight G1 scores in a row from gate 4. Jose Ortiz rides the tepid morning line favorite.

West Coast 4-1

Has placed in all six career starts for trainer Bob Baffert - four wins and two runner-up finishes. He enters on a nice three-race win streak - the G3 Los Alamitos Derby last time out July 15, the minor Easy Goer Stakes by an eye-opening 3 3/4 lengths after a troubled start at Belmont Park June 10 and an Allowance Optional Claiming at Santa Anita May 20. Before that was a respectable second in his only other graded stakes action to date - the G3 Lexington Stakes at Keeneland April 15, a maiden score in March and a second in his debut. West Coast has been a factor in every race so far and hopes to be so again Saturday with Mike Smith in the saddle of the intriguing second betting choice from post 3.

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Good Samaritan 5-1

Legendary trainer Bill Mott sends out Good Samaritan for his eighth career start. His first resulted in a maiden score at Saratoga August 13 and his second was a very successful graded stakes debut - a win in the G2 Summer Stakes at Woodbine September 10. He has been equally competitive in five starts since - a good win last time out in the G2 Jim Dandy Stakes here against many of his weekend foes followed an OK fourth in the G1 Belmont Derby Invitational July 8, a second behind Oscar Performance in the G3 Pennine Ridge Stakes on that track June 3, another second in the G2 American Turf Stakes at Churchill Downs May 6 and a respectable third as favorite in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf in November. Good Samaritan has been competitive in every career start so far and hopes to be again Saturday with Joel Rosario in the reins of the third choice from post 5.

Always Dreaming 6-1

Todd Pletcher trained colt has placed in seven of eight career starts - four terrific wins, a second and two third-place finishes - the best by far was his impressive victory in the Kentucky Derby. He enters off an OK third in the G2 Jim Dandy Stakes on this track July 29 which followed an uncharacteristic and underwhelming eighth in the G1 Preakness Stakes May 20 and a four-race win streak - The Kentucky Derby with ease - by 2 3/4 lengths, the G1 Florida Derby by five lengths in his stakes debut at Gulfstream April 1, an Allowance Optional Claiming March 4 and a maiden score at Tampa Bay January 25 - all four in dominant fashion. Always Dreaming looked untouchable during his streak and will be out to rediscover his early-season form from post 7. John Velazquez gets the call.

Cloud Computing 8-1

Will hit the track for just the sixth time for trainer Chad Brown having looked decent so far. He posted a nice win in his first career start February 11, a respectable second with a 96 Beyer Speed Figure, over seven lengths clear of third in the G3 Gotham Stakes March 4 and a decent third in the G2 Wood Memorial Stakes April 8 - all results at Aqueduct. Last time out was a slight step back - a fifth in the G2 Jim Dandy Stakes on this track July 29 which followed his incredible win in the G1 Preakness Stakes May 20. Cloud Computing hopes to replicate the form of two starts back when he leaves from the rail with Javier Castellano aboard.

Irap 8-1

Doug O'Neill trained colt has three wins, three seconds and a third-place finish in his 11 career starts. He started his career with a third and a fourth respectively in a pair of MSW races and went on to a respectable runner-up finish in the G1 Los Alamitos Cash Call Futurity December 10. He enters on a nice two-race wins streak - the G2 Indiana Derby July 15 and the G3 Ohio Derby at Thistletown June 24. Before that was an unflattering eighteenth in the Kentucky Derby May 6, a good win over a very good field in the G2 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland April 8, a slightly disappointing fourth in the G3 Sunland Derby March 26 and consecutive runner-up finishes - in the minor Mine That Bird Derby at Sunland Park February 26 and the G2 Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita February 4. Irap arrives in career-best form and will have Mario Gutierrez guiding him from gate 10 Saturday.

Girvin 10-1

Has placed in six of seven career starts for trainer Joe Sharp - four wins and two runner-up finishes. He enters off a great win in the G1 Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park July 30 which followed an OK second behind the emerging Irap in the G3 Ohio Derby at Thistletown June 24 and his worst career start - a bad-trip thirteenth in the Kentucky Derby. That result followed two straight impressive graded stakes scores - the G2 Louisiana Derby April 1 by 1 1/4 lengths and the G2 Risen Star Stakes by two lengths February 25 - both at Fair Grounds. He had a second in the minor Keith Gee Memorial Overnight Stakes before that February 4 and a maiden score at first asking December 16. Girvin was an early contender on the Triple Crown trail and shoots for a second straight G1 victory Saturday from post 6. Robby Albarado has the mount.

McCraken 12-1

Ian Wilkes trained gelding has eight career starts with five impressive wins, a second and a third-place finish. Last time out was a second-place finish behind Girvin in the G1 Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park July 30 which followed a nice 2 1/4 length win as favorite in the G3 Matt Winn Stakes at Churchill Downs June 17, an eighth thanks to a troubled trip in the Kentucky Derby and a third in the G2 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland April 8. He won his first four starts including the G3 Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay February 11, by 1 1/4 lengths in the G2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes November 26, by 3 3/4 lengths in the minor Street Sense Stakes October 30 and a maiden score at first asking October 2 - the last three at Churchill Downs. McCraken has been good so far in his career and hopes to build on a pair of nice efforts from post 9. Brian Joseph Hernandez will be in the reins from post 9.

Gunnevera 20-1

Has five wins, two seconds and a third-place finish in 12 career starts for trainer Antonio Sano. Last time out was a win in the minor Tangelo Stakes at Gulfstream Park August 8 after an OK fifth in the G1 Preakness Stakes May 20, a seventh in the G1 Kentucky Derby and a third in the G1 Florida Derby at Gulfstream April 1. Before that was a nice victory on that track in the G2 Fountain of Youth Stakes March 4, a respectable second in the G2 Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream February 4 and another good win by 5 3/4 lengths in the $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot November 19. He's also had a good eye-opening win with a 97 Beyer Speed Figure in the G2 Saratoga Special August 14. Gunnevera has won three graded stakes races so far and hopes to find his early-career form Saturday. Edgard Zayas has the mount from post 11.

Giuseppe the Great 20-1

Nick Zito trained colt has placed in five of six career starts - one win, three seconds and a third-place finish. Last time out was a very good second against a good field in the G2 Jim Dandy Stakes on this track July 27 which followed a fourth in the G3 Dwyer Stakes July 8 at Belmont Park, a respectable second in the G2 Woody Stephens Stakes on that track June 10 and a maiden score at Keeneland April 8. Giuseppe The Great has been decent in his career so far and shoots for a first stakes win Saturday with Tyler Gaffalione guiding him from gate 2.

Lookin At Lee 30-1

Steve Asmussen trained colt finished fifth in his debut but has looked OK in 12 starts since including all three legs of the Triple Crown. Last time out was a decent third in the G3 West Virginia Stakes at Mountaineer August 5 after a disappointing seventh in the G1 Belmont Stakes June 10, an OK fourth in the Preakness Stakes May 20, a good second in the G1 Kentucky Derby, a third in the G1 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park April 15, a sixth in the G2 Rebel Stakes on that track March 18, another third in the G3 Southwest Stakes there February 20 and a fourth in the 2015 Breeders' Cup Juvenile. Lookin At Lee has placed in six of 10 graded stakes starts and aims for his first win in top company from gate 8. Ricardo Santana is scheduled to ride.

Fayeq 30-1

Kiaran McLaughlin trained colt has two wins and a third-place finish in four career starts. He makes his stakes debut Saturday on a two-race win streak - an Allowance on this track July 26 and a MSW at Belmont Park June 11. He started his career with a fifth and a third respectively in a pair of MSW races to start his career. Fayeq steps up in career-best form but is expected to be in over his head in this one. Luis Saez guides from the outside gate 12.

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2017 Travers Stakes Odds & Entries

Race 11 on Saratoga's Saturday card with a Post Time of 5:44 PM.