Travers Stakes Final Analysis (8-29-26)

The 2026 Travers Stakes takes center stage at Saratoga Race Course on Saturday, August 29. The Grade 1 event carries a $1.25 million purse and will send three-year-olds 1¼ miles around the main track, with a scheduled post time of 6:35 p.m. ET.

I have closely followed this crop through the Road to the Kentucky Derby series, covering 36 qualifying races. My top choices produced 13 wins, four seconds and seven thirds, and I have correctly tabbed 8 top choice winners in sophomore stakes races since the Triple Crown concluded in June.

Here is my look at the Travers field featuring Today’s Racing Digest race sheets.

2026 Travers Stakes Field

1. Emerging Market (15-1)

Trained by Chad Brown and ridden by Ricardo Santana Jr., Emerging Market enters the Travers off a second-place finish in a Saratoga optional claiming race against older horses.

He rallied wide from last in that July 25 race, overcoming a slow pace and an outside post to finish a clear second as the beaten favorite.

His Today’s Racing Digest numbers improved in that race, including a 121 Comprehensive Performance Rating (CPR) and a 132 final-time rating. I believe that race served as a useful prep, and he should be able to save ground behind the speed from the inside post this time.

The question is whether he can return to his best form. I see him primarily as an exotic-wager possibility.

2. Leading Change (12-1)

Leading Change is one of the most intriguing horses in the field because the Travers will be only his third lifetime start.

Brad Cox trains the colt, with Manny Franco taking over in the saddle. He won his debut at seven furlongs before stepping directly into Grade 3 company in the Indiana Derby.

He was heavily bet at 1-2 in that race and fought hard to win by a neck as my top choice.

His second-start numbers included a 100 Fire Number, a 149 final-time rating and a 124 CPR. Those figures indicate significant talent, but he will have to take another step forward while stretching to 1¼ miles against considerably more experienced horses.

I like his tactical speed and inside post but his lack of experience is the major question.

3. Napoleon Solo (8-1)

Napoleon Solo, trained by Chad Summers and ridden by John Velasquez, could be the horse most likely to dictate the pace.

Velasquez has worked the horse in the mornings and takes over as his rider. Napoleon Solo is already a Grade 1 winner, having captured the Preakness Stakes earlier in the year after winning the Grade 1 Champagne Stakes as a two-year-old.

He was second in the Grade 1 Haskell Stakes last time out.

The major concern is the distance. He has gone 1 3/16 miles, but the Travers will require another sixteenth of a mile. I expect him to be aggressive early and try to establish the lead.

If he can clear the field and get a breather on the front end, he could prove difficult to catch. If he faces pressure, however, the 1¼-mile distance could expose a stamina limitation.

Read more at Today's Racing Digest

Waya Stakes 2026 Analysis (8-28-26)

Happy Travers Week! The Waya Stakes is the eighth race on Friday, August 28, at Saratoga Race Course. The Grade 3 event carries a $225,000 purse and is scheduled to be run at 1 3/8 miles on the turf, with a post time of 5:07 p.m. ET.

The race sheets information discussed below is provided by Today’s Racing Digest. If you’re looking for Friday’s Saratoga past performances, you can find them on the Digest Handicapping Products Page.

The Field

1. Evershed (5-1)

Evershed enters her second start off a lengthy layoff for trainer Arnaud Delacour, with Flavien Prat picking up the mount.

The four-year-old filly has seven career starts, with two wins, two seconds and a third. Her most notable Saratoga effort came in last year’s Grade 2 Saratoga Oaks, where she finished second at 1 3/16 miles on turf.

She returned from her layoff on July 19, finishing third after a wide-closing trip at 1 1/16 miles. That race produced a 125 final-time rating, and she figures to improve with a race under her belt.

Her 147 final-time rating in the Saratoga Oaks remains the best number of her career, which makes Saratoga and the longer distance particularly interesting.

2. Snipsnippitysnip (8-1)

Brendan Walsh trains Snipsnippitysnip, with Edgar Zayas named to ride.

She rallied to finish third in a 1 3/8-mile optional claiming race at Saratoga on July 19, earning a 126 final-time rating. She had previously won at the same distance with a 117 rating.

She’ll need to improve her speed figure to contend with the best of this group, but her proven ability at the distance makes her worth considering underneath.

3. Whitethorn (10-1)

Whitethorn is trained by Todd Pletcher and will have Luis Saez aboard.

The daughter of Not This Time has finished in the top three in all seven of her starts, although all seven came in maiden company. She finally broke through last time out, winning by more than four lengths at this 1 3/8-mile distance on July 26.

Blinkers were added for that race, and the equipment change appeared to help. She rallied from well off the pace while earning a 125 final-time rating.

The question is whether she can take another step forward against stakes company. She has plenty of upside, and the added distance appears to suit her.

Read more at Today's Racing Digest

Travers Stakes 2026 Video Analysis

 Video analysis of the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers Stakes at Saratoga (8-29-26). 

Check out horse racing free picks and more at The Runaway Horse. 

Travers Stakes 2026 Video Preview (8-22-26)

The Travers is less than a week away and here is my latest video preview.

Travers Stakes hopefuls (as of 8-22-26): Baby Vino, Emerging Market, Golden Tempo, Leading Change, Napoleon Solo, Ocelli, Renegade, Sea Strike, Silent Tactic, The Puma.

Pacific Classic 2026 Analysis (8-22-26)

The Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar is the marquee event on Saturday, August 22, with a $1 million purse and a field of 11 horses set to travel 1¼ miles on the main track. The race is scheduled as the 10th race, with a post time of 9:43 p.m. Eastern.

Pacific Classic Analysis

1. Om N Joy (20-1)

Om N Joy is a four-year-old filly taking on males, but she has plenty of experience at Del Mar. In five starts at the track, she has two wins, a second and two thirds.

She won the Grade 2 Santa Margarita at Santa Anita on May 30 after chasing a wicked 45-second opening half-mile pace. Last time out, she rallied from off the pace to finish second, beaten only a half-length, in the Grade 1 Clement L. Hirsch at Del Mar.

This will be her first attempt at 1¼ miles. She should save ground behind the speed and could pick up a minor award if the pace gets hot.

2. Forged Steel (5-1)

Forged Steel will be ridden by Edwin Gonzalez for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.

He won the Grade 2 Hollywood Gold Cup at 1¼ miles on May 25, going wire to wire by more than nine lengths. However, that victory came in a five-horse field that did not appear particularly deep.

He subsequently finished fifth, beaten a dozen lengths, in the Grade 2 Suburban.

The major question is whether he can sustain his speed with several other horses likely to be involved early.

3. Finger (8-1)

Finger is an intriguing international shipper coming in from Japan. The three-year-old son of Gun Runner has been remarkably consistent, with four wins and four runner-up finishes from eight starts.

He is four-for-five this year with a second this year and enters off victories in his last two starts, including the Tokyo Derby at 1¼ miles in a 16-horse field.

The distance should not be an issue, and from post three he figures to be fairly close to the pace. The biggest question is how he will handle his first start in the United States against older horses.

4. Subsanador (12-1)

Subsanador is 12-1 on the morning line for trainer Richard Mandella, with Mike Smith aboard.

The seven-year-old has struggled to find his best form this year, finishing fourth and getting beaten by eight, eight and 37 lengths in his three starts.

He is winless in three starts at Del Mar, although he does have a second at this distance. Back-to-back bullet workouts at Del Mar provide some reason for optimism, but he will need a major turnaround.

5. Malarchuk (10-1)

Malarchuk is another horse with the ability to be forwardly placed.

The jockey-trainer combination of Umberto Rispoli and Michael McCarthy has performed well, winning 27% of the time while producing a positive return on investment.

He finished second, beaten more than nine lengths by Forged Steel, in the Hollywood Gold Cup. He prefers to race near the front, which could become an issue if several other speed horses push the pace.

Read more at Today's Racing Digest

Ballston Spa Stakes Analysis (8-22-26)

The Grade 2 Ballston Spa is the main appetizer on Alabama Stakes Day at Saratoga on Saturday, August 22, with a $300,000 purse on the line for fillies and mares. The race is scheduled as the 10th race, with a post time of approximately 6:07 p.m. ET, and will be contested at 1 1/16 miles on the inner turf course.

Here’s a look at the field and the top contenders.

Ballston Spa Analysis

1. Ozara (8-1)

Trainer Miguel Clement sends out Ozara, with Dylan Davis aboard.

Ozara has 18 career starts with eight wins, two seconds and two thirds. She has been particularly effective at Saratoga, winning three of four starts, and she’s also strong at this distance, with four wins from six attempts.

Her recent races haven’t been her best. She finished sixth in the Grade 1 Diana last time out over yielding turf, but a return to firm ground could help. She also won this race last year, tracking the pace from an inner post before drawing clear by 1 1/2 lengths.

If Ozara returns to her best form, she could be dangerous at her 8-1 morning-line price. Her inside post should also allow Davis to save ground.

2. Sunlit Uplands (10-1)

Sunlit Uplands is an overseas shipper with John Velazquez taking the mount.

She has four wins and three runner-up finishes from 11 career starts. Her most recent victory came in a Group 3 race in Germany on July 5, where she won by three lengths in a nine-horse field.

There aren’t comparable final time figures available for her because of her European form, making her somewhat difficult to evaluate against this group. Still, the recent Group 3 victory makes her an interesting 10-1 possibility.

3. Deep Satin (5-1)

Trained by Cherie DeVaux and ridden by Jose Ortiz, Deep Satin has three wins and four seconds from 13 starts.

She was the runner-up in last year’s Ballston Spa, when Ozara defeated her.

Deep Satin’s recent form has been disappointing, including a sixth-place finish in the De La Rose Stakes. However, she has demonstrated that she is capable of running numbers competitive with this field.

She earned a 149 final rating when finishing second in this race last year, followed by a 146 in a Grade 1 at Keeneland and a 147 in the Grade 1 Just a Game at Saratoga earlier this year.

If she can rediscover her top form, she has a legitimate chance.

4. Play With Fire (15-1)

Chad Brown trains Play With Fire, with Manny Franco scheduled to ride.

She has three runner-up finishes in three starts at Saratoga, making this a favorable venue. She was second by a neck in an optional-claiming race at Saratoga on July 9, her first start since October 2025.

That long layoff makes her second start of the season particularly interesting. Her last race earned a 131 rating, and she has previously posted figures of 132 and 137.

A forward move could put her into the picture at a very attractive 15-1.

Read more at Today's Racing Digest

Alabama Stakes 2026 Analysis (8-22-26)

The Alabama Stakes at Saratoga is the featured race for three-year-old fillies on Saturday, August 22. The Grade 1 event carries a $600,000 purse and will be contested at 1 1/4 miles on the main track.

After reviewing the field and the Racing Digest past-performance numbers, the race appears to revolve around Counting Stars, who enters off back-to-back Grade 1 victories. She looks like the clear horse to beat, but there are a few interesting contenders underneath her.

Alabama Stakes Field Analysis

1. Nycon (20-1)

Nycon appears to have the most work to do. She has competed in graded company in her last two starts, but she was beaten by 10 lengths and 24 lengths in those races.

She did post a couple of 120 final time ratings earlier this year at a mile, but her recent numbers dropped significantly. She’ll need a substantial improvement to compete with this field.

The inside post could allow her to save ground, but it’s difficult to envision her being around at the finish.

2. Ati Girl (10-1)

Ati Girl has been improving steadily and has already demonstrated that the 1 1/4-mile distance isn’t a problem. She finished second at that distance at Churchill Downs in April and ran well in her last two starts, including a two-length-plus victory at Saratoga on July 16.

The concern is class.

All nine of her races have been maiden special weight events, so this is a major step up against graded stakes competition. Her final time ratings have improved from 104 to 110 and then 114, but she’ll need another significant jump forward here.

3. Measure (6-1)

Measure is an intriguing contender for the underneath spots.

She finished third in the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga last time out, finishing behind Counting Stars and Always a Runner. Although she was beaten by more than six lengths, she continued running through the finish and earned a 125 final time rating.

That followed a 123 rating in her previous start, showing a pattern of improvement.

Flavien Prat gets the mount, and Measure’s grinding running style should suit the 1 1/4-mile distance. She doesn’t appear fast enough to beat Counting Stars on paper, but she could be a factor in the exacta.

Read more at Today's Racing Digest