Saratoga Picks: Travers Stakes (08/23/2025)

The racing action from Saratoga on Saturday features the DraftKings Travers Stakes. @HandicappingT3 has all the Saratoga picks for the entire card!

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Saratoga Full Card Analysis

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Saratoga Picks – Race 1

Post Time: 11:10 AM ET; Maiden Special Weight $100k; 1 1/16 M Turf; Field of 11 runners.

• #1 REMEMBER MAMBA (3-1): Top pick. Ortiz puts this one in with a chance.
• #6 BOTTAS (7-2): Major Player. Trainer is having a great meet. Demonstrated success under similar conditions.
• #9 GRUNGE (4-1): Contender. Barn has been sending out runners. Previous success in similar race types.
• #10 AKKADIAN (6-1): Contender. Trainer’s horses have been running.

Selections: 1 – 6 – 9 – 10

The Plays

Win: #1 at 5-2

Exacta: 1 / 6, 9, 10

Saratoga Picks – Race 2

Post Time: 11:43 AM ET; Allowance Optional Claiming $115k; 1 3/16 M Turf; Field of 12 runners.

• #3 THEN (7-2): Top pick. Odds suggest this one is ready to fire on debut. Looks good based on the 102 speed rating which is among the top in the group.
• #7 CRYSTAL QUEST (5-2): Major Player. Trainer is having a great meet.
• #8 VESTING (3-1): Contender. The 101 speed rating is among the best in the field. May be able find the right setup.
• #1 EARLY ADOPTER (7-2): Contender. Likely to win the battle if challenged in the stretch. Race conditions fit this one well.

Selections: 3 – 7 – 8 – 1

The Plays

Win: #3 at 5-2

Exacta Box: 3, 7, 8

Saratoga Picks – Race 3

Post Time: 12:17 PM ET; Maiden Special Weight $100k; 6 1/2 F Dirt; Field of 9 runners.

• #3 TOUCH OF MAGIC (3-1): Best bet of the card. Proven competitor at this configuration. Favorable class relief in this spot. Bet today’s best bet with industry leading rebates on BetOnline.
• #8 TAM TAM (7-2): Major Player. Looks to get a bit easier group here.
• #5 ICECREAMFOREVRYONE (9-2): Contender. Pedigree fits in this spot. Previous success in similar race types.
• #1 CELEBRITY QUEST (4-1): Contender. May be getting a weaker field than last out.

Selections: 3 – 8 – 5 – 1

The Plays

Win: #3 at 1-1

Exacta: 3 / 8, 5

Saratoga Picks – Race 4

Post Time: 12:51 PM ET; Maiden Special Weight $90k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 11 runners.

• #10 MERICA’S BACK (2-1): Top pick. Stamina to outlast the competition. Race sets up perfectly.
• #7 KEEPINITREAL (5-2): Major Player. Should take a liking to the race shape.
• #6 COACH PITINO (8-1): Underneath. Barn has been sending out runners. Previous success in similar race types.
• #3 GAMEBRED (20-1): Underneath. May be getting a weaker field than last out. Davis and Baker team up on this one.

Selections: 10 – 7 – 6 – 3

The Plays

Win: #10 at 2-1

Exacta: 10 / 7

Saratoga Picks – Race 5

Post Time: 1:25 PM ET; Allowance $95k; 5 1/2 F Turf; Field of 16 runners.

• #6 ANNASCAUL (5-2): Prime Win Player. Barn has been solid. Race sets up perfectly.
• #10 SILSBEE (3-1): Contender. Productive recent form. Velazquez and Weaver team up on this one.
• #13 QUICK POWER NAP (10-1): Contender. Likely to maintain its stamina reserves for a strong finish. Previous success in similar race types.
• #1 ALPINE GIANT (8-1): Underneath. Race shape gives this one an edge. Likely to win the battle if challenged in the stretch.

Selections: 6 – 10 – 13 – 1

The Plays

Win: #6 at 5-2

Exacta: 6 / 10, 13

Saratoga Picks – Race 6

Post Time: 2:00 PM ET; Maiden Special Weight $100k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 9 runners.

• #5 BIG DOM (3-1): Top pick. Favorable class relief in this spot.
• #6 VINO VICI (7-2): Major Player. Speed figures match this group well. Expected to maintain its energy reserves into the final stretch.
• #3 DR. KAPUR (9-2): Contender. Barn has been sending out runners. Should find today’s group a bit softer than the last race.
• #9 OLD TIME ROCKNROLL (9-2): Contender. Race conditions fit this one well. Trainer’s horses have been running.

Selections: 5 – 6 – 3 – 9

The Plays

Win: #5 at 5-2

Exacta Box: 5, 6, 3

Saratoga Picks – Race 7

Post Time: 2:35 PM ET; Lake Placid Stakes $400k; 1 M Turf; Field of 6 runners.

• #1 PLAY WITH FIRE (2-1): Best bet of the card. Comes in with solid form. Favorable class relief in this spot. Bet today’s best bet with industry-leading rebates on BetOnline.
• #6 REINING FLOWERS (4-1): Major Player. Running well of late. Demonstrated success under similar conditions.
• #3 MAY DAY READY (5-2): Major Player. Ortiz puts this one in with a chance. Potential to have this pace fall just right.
• #5 SCARLET SANDS (10-1): Contender. Speed figs are a bit slow, but not completely hopeless against the top of the field. Race shape gives this one an edge.

Selections: 1 – 6 – 3 – 5

The Plays

Win: #1 at 1-1

Exacta: 1 / 6, 3

Saratoga Picks – Race 8

Post Time: 3:09 PM ET; Allowance $95k; 1 1/16 M Turf; Field of 16 runners.

• #2 GALLANT GRETA (7-2): Top pick. Race sets up perfectly. Fits well with this group.
• #12 TONGUE TWISTER (4-1): Major Player. Potentially cycling to a top performance. Demonstrated success under similar conditions.
• #10 SUMMER WHIRL (5-1): Contender. Barn has been sending out runners. Potential to kick home late.
• #8 LOVEUMISSUMEANIT (5-1): Fringe Contender. Trainer’s horses have been running. Race conditions fit this one well.

Selections: 2 – 12 – 10 – 8

The Plays

Win: #2 at 7-2

Exacta: 2 / 12, 10

Saratoga Picks – Race 9

Post Time: 3:45 PM ET; Personal Ensign Stakes $500k; 1 1/8 M Dirt; Field of 7 runners.

• #7 THORPEDO ANNA (6-5): Top pick. Barn has been solid. Strong early pace figs.
• #6 LESLIE’S ROSE (9-2): Major Player. Running well of late. Ortiz puts this one in with a chance.
• #3 RAGING SEA (5-1): Major Player. Potentially ready to hit a top number. Should sit a good trip.
• #2 DAZZLING MOVE (12-1): Major Player. Could be ready to hit a peak performance. Trainer’s horses have been running.

Selections: 7 – 6 – 3 – 2

The Plays

Win: #7 at 5-2

Exacta Box: 7, 6, 3

Saratoga Picks – Race 10

Post Time: 4:22 PM ET; H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes $500k; 7 F Dirt; Field of 8 runners.

• #3 BARNES (9-2): Top pick. Comes in with solid form. Barn has been solid.
• #7 CAPTAIN COOK (12-1): Major Player. Running well of late. Demonstrated success under similar conditions.
• #1 PATCH ADAMS (3-1): Major Player. Potential to have this pace fall just right. Likely to maintain its stamina reserves for a strong finish.
• #4 CHANCER MCPATRICK (5-1): Major Player. Likely to win the battle if challenged in the stretch. Trainer’s horses have been running.

Selections: 3 – 7 – 1 – 4

The Plays

Win: #3 at 5-2

Exacta Box: 3, 7, 1

Saratoga Picks – Race 11

Post Time: 4:59 PM ET; Resorts World Casino Ballerina Stakes $500k; 7 F Dirt; Field of 9 runners.

• #5 CLARET BERET (6-1): Longshot play of the day. Proven competitor at this configuration. Shouldn’t have trouble getting the distance. Bet today’s live longshot on MyBookie.
• #9 HOPE ROAD (3-1): Major Player. Trainer is having a great meet. Ortiz puts this one in with a chance.
• #2 BRIGHTWORK (15-1): Major Player. Barn has been sending out runners. Should find today’s group a bit softer than the last race.
• #7 SCYLLA (5-2): Major Player. Prat and Mott team up on this one. Potential to get the pace of the race flow.

Selections: 5 – 9 – 2 – 7

The Plays

Win: #5 at 5-1

Exacta: 5 / 9, 7

Saratoga Picks – Race 12

Post Time: 5:36 PM ET; Forego Stakes $500k; 7 F Dirt; Field of 11 runners.

• #4 BOOK’EM DANNO (8-5): Top pick. Barn has been solid. Stamina to outlast the competition.
• #7 MULLIKIN (7-2): Major Player. Should still be running strong in the closing stages. Top connections on the circuit with Prat and Brisset.
• #3 FULL MOON MADNESS (20-1): Major Player. Could wear these ones down late. Should sit a good trip.
• #1 MOST WANTED (5-1): Major Player. May be getting a weaker field than last out. Can compete from a speed figure standpoint.

Selections: 4 – 7 – 3 – 1

The Plays

Win: #4 at 5-2

Exacta Box: 4, 7, 3

Saratoga Picks – Race 13

Post Time: 6:14 PM ET; DraftKings Travers Stakes $1250k; 1 1/4 M Dirt; Field of 5 runners.

• #4 SOVEREIGNTY (2-5): Top pick. Stamina to outlast the competition. Barn has been solid.
• #1 MAGNITUDE (2-1): Major Player. Looks to get a bit easier group here. Likely to get forward position.
• #3 STRATEGIC FOCUS (6-1): Major Player. Barn has been sending out runners. Previous success in similar race types.

Selections: 4 – 1 – 3

The Plays

Win: #4 at 2-5

Exacta: 4 / 1, 3

Saratoga Picks – Race 14

Post Time: 6:50 PM ET; Maiden Claiming $50k; 1 M Turf; Field of 16 runners.

• #16 PRINCESS SUMMER (6-1): Prime Win Player. Barn has been solid. Solid breeding for this spot.
• #1 DANCIN JANE (5-2): Contender. Expected to maintain its energy reserves into the final stretch.
• #2 AMELIA (10-1): Contender. Could wear these ones down late. Barn has been sending out runners.
• #4 FIRE AGATE (8-1): Fringe Contender. Race conditions fit this one well.

Selections: 16 – 1 – 2 – 4

The Plays

Win: #16 at 4-1

Trifecta: 16 / 1, 2 / 1, 2, 4

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Thursday Analysis

• Saratoga Picks featuring the Albany Stakes

Friday Analysis

• Charles Town Picks featuring the Grade 2 Charles Town Classic

Saturday Analysis

• Del Mar Picks featuring the Grade 2 Pat O’Brien (Win and You’re In for the Breeders’ Cup)
• Saratoga Picks featuring the Grade 1 Travers Stakes
• Woodbine Picks featuring the Grade 3 Seaway Stakes