Travers Stakes is among one of the most popular and anticipated horse racing events in North America. The winning thoroughbred in the big race will receive a $1,250,000 prize fund and will be draped with a garland of red and white carnations.
This August 26, the “Mid-Summer Derby” will return with a promising set of runners and enthusiastic fans attending the race online and physically. If you are an avid Travers Stakes fan and look forward to backing the finest horse in its 154th run, check out our list of most promising contenders!
Forte
With the legendary Todd Pletcher mounting Forte, winning the travers stakes 2023 won’t be impossible! The dark bay colt just placed second in the Belmont Stakes, the final leg of the Triple Crown Series. With trainer Todd Pletcher, Forte is equipped to win more major stakes like the Travers. He is yet to reach his peak, and the Travers Stakes could be his most successful race as a three-year-old.
In 2022, Forte won the Hopeful Stakes, Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, and the Breeders’ Futurity. This year, he has successfully claimed the title in the Florida Derby, Fountain of Youth Stakes, and Jan Dandy Stakes. He also received horse racing honors like the American Champion Two-Year-Old Male Horse in 2022.
So, whether you’re a newbie still needing horse racing betting types explained to you or a veteran ready to wager on the next big thing, Forte is worth the consideration.
Reincarnate
Trained by Bob Baffert, Reincarnate has proven his skills in the race track, winning multiple races like the 2023 Sham Stakes and the 2023 Los Alamitos Derby. The colt also placed third in the 2023 Rebel Stakes and Arkansas Derby. He has raced on other tracks, including Del Mar, Churchill Downs, Oaklawn Park, Los Alamitos Day, and Santa Anita.
National Treasure
Bred by Peter E. Blum, National Treasure has thrived as one of North America’s most successful three-year-old thoroughbreds. The iconic Bob Baffert trained the bay colt. National Treasure notably won the Preakness Stakes, the Triple Crown Series’ second leg.
National Treasure was the post-time favorite in Sham Stakes and placed third in the race. He also competed in the Santa Anita Derby and finished the race as the fourth placer. His most recent race was Belmont Stakes, the last leg of the Triple Crown Series, where he finished sixth place.
As a two-year-old, National Treasure placed second in the American Pharaoh Stakes and third in Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.
Mage
Known as the 2023 Kentucky Derby winner, Mage also placed third in the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico. Besides the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, the chestnut colt also placed second in the Haskell Stakes.
Trained by Gustavo Delgado, a Venezuelan Triple Crown-winning trainer with four wins under his belt, Mage is set to conquer more major stakes like the Travers Stakes this coming August 26.
Disarm
With a solid fourth-place finish in the Kentucky Derby, Disarm is set to race in the 2023 Travers Stakes. Trained by Steven M. Asmussen, this colt has been actively competing from 2022 to the current year. In fact, Disarm won the 2023 Matt Winn and secured the fourth spot in the 2023 Kim Dandy. He also finished third in the 2023 Lexington and second in the Louisiana Derby.
Blazing Sevens
Blazing Sevens is a three-year-old colt who won the 2022 Champagne S. He also placed second in the 2023 Preakness Stakes and finished third in the 2023 Blue Grass Stakes and Curlin. Trained by Chad C. Brown, Blazing Sevens is one of the probable runners in the 2023 Travers Stakes, and with a decent record of wins, he could also compete well this August 26.
Arcangelo
Archangelo is a gray ridgling bred by Don Alberto Corporation in Kentucky. Trained by Jena Antonucci, Arcangelo was conditioned to win the 2023 Belmont Stakes. This has also made Antonucci the first woman to train and an American Triple Crown race winner.
Last May 13, 2023, Arcangelo also won the Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont Park. Javier Castellano rode Arcangelo in both Belmont Stakes and Peter Pan Stakes.
Angel of Empire
Angel of Empire is a bay colt trained by Brad H. Cox and bred by Forgotten Land Investment Inc. & Black Diamond Equine. As a two-year-old, Angel of Empire has shown dominance on the track, winning both the 2022 Maiden Special Weight race and an Allowance race in Indianapolis.
In 2023, Angel of Empire was hailed as the champion in the Risen Star Stakes in Fair Grounds and Arkansas Derby in Oaklawn Park. During his Triple Crown Series campaign, he placed third in the Kentucky Derby and fourth in the Belmont Stakes. Moreover, he notably placed second in the Smarty Jones Stakes and third in the recent Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga.
Takeaway
As the race date gets closer, Travers Stakes fans are excited to know which thoroughbreds would confirm their attendance this August 26. The race attracts the most successful and promising three-year-old thoroughbreds as scheduled in the year’s third quarter. This means a better chance of predicting the winners as the competitors have dashed against each other in the races scheduled behind the Travers Stakes.
