Epicenter named the favorite for the Travers on Saturday at Saratoga

By NY Hot List staff | Friday, August 26, 2022

Amongst the field of eight 3-year-olds in the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers at Saratoga on Saturday are fives horse that ran in at least one of the Triple Crown races including the winners of the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness.

Epicenter was named the 7-5 morning line favorite for trainer Steve Amsussen based on his record where he was first or second in every start since his debut

“He’s arguably the best 3-year-old in the division despite not having a Grade 1 win that he needs,” Asmussen said. “We’ve all witnessed his Classic defeats with our mouths agape. But watching that happen in the Derby and the Preakness, we realize how fortunate we have to be. It looks like an incredible field, and I imagine all eyes will be on him on the grandstand and the racetrack.”

Epicenter won the Jim Dandy (G2) at the Spa as he prepared for the ten-furlong challenge in the Mid-summer Derby.

“I love the race that he ran over this racetrack. I like him at a mile and a quarter,” Asmussen said. “Nothing but respect for some extremely good 3-year-olds, but I think we have the right one.”

The $1.25 million Travers (G1) – Saratoga, Saturday, Race 11.

(5) Artorius is the least experienced horse in the field and amongst the Chad Brown trio in the Travers. With only three starts, he broke his maiden in his second start at Belmont in June and then stepped up to win the Curlin at Saratoga by almost five-lengths going nine-furlongs. He has the look of a horse with lots of upside potential and he will try and do what his sire Arrogate did which was win the Travers in his first try in a graded stake. (6) Epicenter was made the morning line favorite based on his victory in the Jim Dandy (G2) and his seconds in the Kentucky Derby (G1) and the Preakness (G1). Yet, he is still seeking his first Grade 1 victory. (1) Cyberknife has lived up to his billing as a 3-year-old that needed to mature mentally and in doing so he won a pair of Grade 1s in the Arkansas Derby and most recently the Haskell. (8) Zandon is another of the Brown runners with a chance to give the trainer his first win in the Mid-summer Derby. Never worse than third in six starts of which five were in graded stakes. He has had some excuses in his career and will need his best effort to win here.

The rest of the NY Hot List picks and the Special Saturday Pick 3 are available free of charge at this website.