The 1-2-3 finishers in the Kentucky Derby, as well as the Preakness winner, were among the 8 entries drawn today for Saturday’s 153rd edition of the Travers. The 7-5 morning line favorite for Saratoga’s Midsummer Derby is Epicenter, who leaves from post 6. The Kentucky Derby and Preakness runner-up most recently won Saratoga’s Jim Dandy.

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The defection Sunday of 23-length Dwyer winner Charge It certainly will have impact on the toteboard as well as the early pace. Early Voting should be the controlling speed, having been first or second early in all 5 career starts. There’s no clear-cut answer to who will attempt to apply pressure, though Iowa invader Ain’t Life Grand (post 3) could be forced into that role if asked to do so. Two-time Grade 1 winner Cyberknife, for a Brad Cox barn looking for back-to-back Travers titles, stalked a few lengths off the lead in his Haskell and Arkansas Derby scores, but could be a more-forward factor from the rail draw. Epicenter once would have been an obvious answer, but he’s shown less and less early speed as the season has progressed. It will be very interesting to see how Joel Rosario, who has been tearing up the Saratoga stakes ranks this summer, rides Epicenter.

Rich Strike (post 2) was 80-1 when he shocked the world in the Kentucky Derby, but a mere 4-1 when crashing back to Earth in the Belmont Stakes. His price figures to be somewhere in-between, though his late-running style seems cemented in his form. Also expect a late run from Zandon (post 8), third in the Derby and most recently runner-up to Epicenter in the Jim Dandy at the Spa.

The balance of Saturday’s 13-race card will be drawn on Wednesday. First post Saturday will be 11:35 am ET with the Travers slated for Race 11 at 5:45 pm ET.

Saratoga // $1.25 million Travers Stakes // 1-1/4 miles

1. Cyberknife // Brad Cox // Florent Geroux // 7-2 ML
2. Rich Strike // Eric Reed // Sonny Leon // 10-1 ML
3. Ain’t Life Grand // Kelly Von Hemel // Tyler Gaffalione // 20-1 ML
4. Gilded Age // Bill Mott // Junior Alvarado // 30-1 ML
5. Artorius // Chad Brown // Irad Ortiz Jr. // 9-2 ML
6. Epicenter // Steve Asmussen // Joel Rosario // 7-5 ML
7. Early Voting // Chad Brown // Jose Ortiz // 8-1 ML
8. Zandon // Chad Brown // Flavien Prat // 5-1 ML

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