Study Guide: 2024 Travers Stakes
Aug 19, 2024 J. Keeler Johnson/TwinSpires.com
![Dornoch wins the Belmont S. (G1) during Belmont at Saratoga.](https://www.kentuckyderby.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/dornoch-the-belmont-stakes-credit-angelo-lieto.jpg)
Dornoch wins the Belmont S. (G1) during Belmont at Saratoga (Photo by Coglianese Photography / Credit to Angelo Lieto)
The $1.25 million Travers (G1) over 1 1/4 miles at Saratoga draws a quality field every year, but the 2024 edition has come up especially strong.
All eight entrants are stakes winners. Six are graded stakes winners, four are Grade 1 winners, and one was last year's two-year-old male champion. Five of them competed in either the Kentucky Derby (G1) or Kentucky Oaks (G1) during the spring at Churchill Downs.
This top-to-bottom depth means the Travers is packed with viable win contenders. Let's review the entries:
Thorpedo Anna
![](https://www.kentuckyderby.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/05/thorpedo_anna-2024KentuckyOaks-HorsephotosRN1280-300x211.jpg)
Thorpedo Anna swam through the slop in the Kentucky Oaks (Photo by Rickelle Nelson/Horsephotos.com)
Start(s): 7
Wins: 6
Place: 1
Show: 0
Owner: Brookdale Racing, Mark Edwards, Judy B. Hicks, and Magdalena Racing
Breeder: Judy Hicks
Trainer: Kenny McPeek
Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr.
Top Speed Rating: (101) when winning the Acorn (G1) at Saratoga.
Total Earnings: $1,980,663
Sire: Fast Anna
Dam: Sataves
Color: Dark bay/brown
The red-hot filly Thorpedo Anna is 4-for-4 this year, winning the Fantasy (G2), Kentucky Oaks (G1), Acorn (G1), and Coaching Club American Oaks (G1). She's repeatedly defeated quality competition, but facing males over 1 1/4 miles is a new challenge. The last filly to win the Travers was Lady Rotha in 1915, so Thorpedo Anna has more than 100 years of history to overcome.
Sierra Leone
![Sierra Leone wins the Blue Grass S. (G1) at Keeneland](https://www.kentuckyderby.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/08/SIERRA-LEONE-The-Toyota-Blue-Grass-G1-100th-Running-04-06-24-CM-Keeneland-Race-Course-Inside-Finish-01-John-Gallagher-300x240.jpg)
Sierra Leone wins the Blue Grass S. (G1) at Keeneland (Photo by Coady Media / Credit to John Gallagher)
Start(s): 7
Wins: 3
Place: 3
Show: 1
Owner: Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg, Rocket Ship Racing, and Peter M. Brant
Breeder: Debby M. Oxley
Trainer: Chad Brown
Jockey: Flavien Prat
Top Speed Rating: (104) when finishing third in the Belmont (G1) at Saratoga.
Total Earnings: $2,218,000
Sire: Gun Runner
Dam: Heavenly Love
Color: Dark bay/brown
Blue Grass (G1) winner Sierra Leone has been running well against strong competition, finishing second in the Kentucky Derby (G1), third in the Belmont (G1), and second in the Jim Dandy (G2). But the latter two defeats came against Travers rivals Dornoch and Fierceness, so Sierra Leone may need a career-best effort to turn the tables.
Unmatched Wisdom
![Unmatched Wisdom wins at Saratoga](https://www.kentuckyderby.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/08/unmatched-wisdom-the-curlinAC-Saratoga-2-300x240.jpg)
Unmatched Wisdom wins at Saratoga (Photo by Coglianese Photography)
Start(s): 3
Wins: 3
Place: 0
Show: 0
Owner: Klaravich Stables
Breeder: Estate of Harvey A. Clarke, Paul Braverman, Sebastian Murat, et al.
Trainer: Chad Brown
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.
Top Speed Rating: (99) when winning the Curlin S. at Saratoga.
Total Earnings: $178,750
Sire: Cairo Prince
Dam: Glide On By
Color: Dark bay/brown
Unmatched Wisdom has yet to taste defeat, winning his first three starts for hot trainer Chad Brown. He led all the way in the Curlin S. at Saratoga last month, but the 99 Brisnet Speed rating he received looks a little light against the Travers field, so stepping up sharply in class is a question mark.
Corporate Power
![Corporate Power wins the Sir Barton S. at Pimlico](https://www.kentuckyderby.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/08/CorporatePower-SirBartonS2024-JeffreySnyderMJC-300x225.jpg)
Corporate Power wins the Sir Barton S. at Pimlico (Photo by Maryland Jockey Club / Credit to Jeffrey Snyder)
Start(s): 5
Wins: 2
Place: 2
Show: 0
Owner: Courtlandt Farms
Breeder: Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings
Trainer: Shug McGaughey
Jockey: Javier Castellano
Top Speed Rating: (98) when finishing second in the Curlin S. at Saratoga.
Total Earnings: $148,200
Sire: Curlin
Dam: Road to Victory
Color: Bay
Corporate Power won the Sir Barton S. during the spring, then closed gamely to finish second by one length against Unmatched Wisdom in the Curlin. He's improving for Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey, but the Travers is by far his toughest test to date.
Batten Down
![Batten Down wins at Churchill Downs](https://www.kentuckyderby.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/08/BATTEN-DOWN-04-30-24-CM-Churchill-Downs-Finish-01-300x240.jpg)
Batten Down wins at Churchill Downs (Photo by Coady Media)
Start(s): 6
Wins: 2
Place: 1
Show: 2
Owner: Juddmonte
Breeder: Juddmonte
Trainer: Bill Mott
Jockey: Junior Alvarado
Top Speed Rating: (100) when winning the Ohio Derby (G3) at Thistledown.
Total Earnings: $454,850
Sire: Tapit
Dam: Close Hatches
Color: Gray/roan
Batten Down picked up a graded victory when leading all the way to win the Ohio Derby (G3) in a decisive finish, but he subsequently finished a distant third to Fierceness and Sierra Leone in the Jim Dandy, suggesting he has form to find against this caliber of competition.
Honor Marie
![](https://www.kentuckyderby.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/11/honormarie11-25-300x240.jpg)
Honor Marie wins the 2023 Kentucky Jockey Club (Coady Photography)
Start(s): 7
Wins: 2
Place: 2
Show: 0
Owner: Ribble Farms, Michael H. Eiserman, Earl I. Silver, Kenneth E. Fishbein, and Dave Fishbein
Breeder: Royce Pulliam
Trainer: D. Whitworth Beckman
Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione
Top Speed Rating: (100) when finishing fourth in the Belmont (G1) at Saratoga.
Total Earnings: $626,175
Sire: Honor Code
Dam: Dame Marie
Color: Bay
Winner of the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) last fall, Honor Marie has gone 0-for-4 competing against tough competition this year, with his best finish being a second in the Louisiana Derby (G2). Adding blinkers could potentially sharpen the speed of this deep-closing colt, a positive since he rallied much too late when fourth in the Belmont behind Dornoch and Sierra Leone.
Dornoch
![](https://www.kentuckyderby.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/07/Dornoch-2024Haskell-EquiPhoto1280-300x232.jpg)
Dornoch wins the Haskell (Photo by Equi-Photo)
Start(s): 9
Wins: 5
Place: 2
Show: 0
Owner: West Paces Racing, R. A. Hill Stable, Belmar Racing and Breeding, Two Eight Racing, and Pine Racing Stables
Breeder: Grandview Equine
Trainer: Danny Gargan
Jockey: Luis Saez
Top Speed Rating: (106) when winning the Belmont (G1) at Saratoga.
Total Earnings: $2,352,275
Sire: Good Magic
Dam: Puca
Color: Bay
When Dornoch secures a comfortable trip on or near the lead, he's mighty tough to defeat. Victories in the Haskell (G1), Belmont (G1), Fountain of Youth (G2), and Remsen (G2) have come at the expense of talented rivals like Sierra Leone and Honor Marie, stamping Dornoch as a major win threat — and the slim morning-line favorite — in the Travers. It's worth noting he's already scored a top-tier victory over this track and 1 1/4-mile distance in the Belmont.
Fierceness
![Fierceness wins the Jim Dandy at Saratoga](https://www.kentuckyderby.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/07/fierceness-the-jim-dandy-credit-chelsea-durand3-300x200.jpg)
Fierceness wins the Jim Dandy at Saratoga (Photo by Coglianese Photography / Credit to Chelsea Durand)
Start(s): 7
Wins: 4
Place: 0
Show: 1
Owner: Repole Stable
Breeder: Repole Stable
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: John Velazquez
Top Speed Rating: (112) when winning the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) at Santa Anita.
Total Earnings: $1,978,850
Sire: City of Light
Dam: Nonna Bella
Color: Bay
Consistency isn't a strong suit for Fierceness, who has faltered as the favorite in three high-profile stakes. But sandwiched among those defeats are terrific victories in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1), Florida Derby (G1), and Jim Dandy (G2). In the latter race, held at Saratoga last month, Fierceness overcame a wide trip to defeat Sierra Leone by one length with a strong 105 Brisnet Speed rating. If Fierceness brings his A game to the Travers, he'll be a formidable win threat, but his past performances suggest that's not a certainty.
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