Travers 2016: Date, Post Positions, Saratoga Odds, Prize-Money Purse and More

The Travers Stakes has long been one of the staples of the horse racing calendar and perhaps the highlight event of the summer.

This year's running of the $1.25 million event at Saratoga looks like a wide-open race, as 14 competitors will head postward Saturday at the picturesque upstate New York track. None of them appears to have a better chance than 3-1 morning-line favorite Exaggerator.

Exaggerator has distinguished himself this year with victories in the Preakness and the Haskell, and he appears to have the talent to hit the line first here. 

Exaggerator is trained by Keith Desormeaux, whose brother Kent Desormeaux will ride him once again. Exaggerator will break out of the No. 7 hole.

His primary challenger appears to be Connect, who will start out of the No. 10 hole. Connect is ridden by John Velazquez and trained by Chad Brown.

Curlin sired both Exaggerator and Connect.

Connect comes into the race with odds of 4-1 and has won three races in a row. Those victories include the Curlin Stakes, which took place at Saratoga last month.

2016 Travers Stakes Info

Where: Saratoga Race Course, Saratoga, New York

When: Saturday

Purse: $1.25 million 

First Post: 11:35 a.m. ET

Travers Stakes Post Time: 5:48 p.m. ET

Where To Watch: NBC, 4:30-6 p.m. ET

Post Position	Horse	Odds	Jockey
1	Arrogate	10-1	Mike Smith
2	American Freedom	6-1	Rafael Bejarano
3	My Man Sam	20-1	Manny Franco
4	Governor Malibu	12-1	Joel Rosario
5	Forever d'Oro	30-1	Louis Saez
6	Anaximandros	50-1	Leonel Ramos
7	Exaggerator	3-1	Kent Desormeaux
8	Destin	10-1	Javier Castellano
9	Gift Box	12-1	Junior Alvarado
10	Connect	4-1	John Velazquez
11	Majesto	30-1	Ricardo Santana Jr.
12	Creator	15-1	Irad Ortiz Jr.
13	Laoban	15-1	Jose Ortiz
14	Gun Runner	10-1	Florent Geroux

Trainer Bob Baffert has two entries in the race, including American Freedom at 6-1 and Arrogate at 10-1. The latter horse is attempting to step up in competition to Grade 1 and has won three races in a row, but it will be a major challenge against this field. 

Horse Racing Nation's Brian Zipse believes that an upset could be in order in this race. He thinks that Gift Box has a legitimate chance to win at odds of 12-1. Gift Box is ridden by Junior Alvarado and trained by Brown.

Zipse is counting on Gift Box's tactical speed to put him in good position through the first part of the race. That will allow him to use his explosiveness to get to the top and keep him there in the race's latter stages.

Governor Malibu is another horse to consider in this race at odds of 8-1. Governor Malibu finished fourth in the Belmont Stakes and had a good prep to finish second in the Jim Dandy. If the Travers unfolds at a good pace, Governor Malibu has the ability to rally and could make a late charge at the lead.

Prediction

While the field is loaded, it's easy to like Exaggerator and the combination of the Desormeaux brothers. Look for his all-around class and tactical speed to set him up well here. He should hold off Gift Box and Connect for the win.

1. Exaggerator
2. Gift Box
3. Connect