This Saturday at Saratoga will be the 141st running of the Travers Stakes, and best of all, it offers a $1 million guaranteed Pick-4. It will be an all-stakes, and you can bet it will take some heat.

Race #9  – Victory Ride (G3) – 6 furlongs:

I am going to work up a $72 ticket, and we will take our shot at the inflated gimmick. In this race, I like #1 Kid Kate, #7 Beyondallboundaries, and #9 Katy Now. The #1 draws the red-hot rail, has the services of Edgar Prado, and is trained by Chad Brown (36%). Makes a second start off a layoff, and cuts back in distance. The #7 would be my top pick. Calvin Borel has the mount, and Thom Amoss is the conditioner. 4/5 ITM lifetime, and if you throw out the poly track race, you will see she is tough. 3/3 at the distance, and looks the part. I round out my selections with #9 Katy Now. Three off the layoff, and cuts back from 1 1/16 against Devil May Care. She has faced the Devil twice, and I don’t see that gal in here today. Take the #1,#7,#9.

Race #10 – Ballerina (G1) – 7 furlongs:

I think this heat looks to be a two horse selection. I like #5 Qualia. This would be my single, but I am protecting myself. With a pool like this, don’t let y0urself get caught in that trap. She is 6/6 lifetime, and if you take a look at her two losses, she is a head and a nose from being perfect. Need I say more? #1 Rightly So catches my eye as the backup in the race. This New York-bred is 10/10 ITM, and draws the rail. Cornelio Velasquez up for Tony Dutrow, and this is supposed to be a good day for him.  Take the #5, #1.

Race #11 – King’s Bishop (G1) – 7 furlongs:

In this affair, it looks like a three horse spread. I like #3 – D’ Funnybone. He is tough, and exits a loss at Calder. Prado and Dick Dutrow team up, and there should be plenty of foot going his favorite distance: 4/4 at 7 panels. #5 Bulldogger – Speedy sort that can jump out and make trouble on the front end. Matt Garcia for Bob Baffert equals danger…. #6 Bank Merger is undefeated, and this one would not surprise me if he jumps up and shocks them. Alan Garcia is in the saddle for Kiaran McLaughlin. Take #3, #5, and #6.

Race #12 – Travers Stakes (G1) – 1 1/4 miles:

This one will be a nice bet for me. #2 Trappe Shot looks to be catching on to the game. He was picking up Lookin at Lucky, but moved way too late. I don’t think this will be a problem today, and he is on the red-hot rail for Alan Garcia. #5 A Little Warm is the talk of the town. Speedy son of Stormin Fever, and he is 1/1 at Saratoga. Dutrow has him cranked up nicely. #6 Ice Box will be the dark runner coming out of the clouds. Julien Leparoux in the saddle will definitely not let him go to sleep back there. He will get him rolling in the lane, and that is a fact.  #8 Fly Down has the look of a nice stalker, who can surprise the others. Lezcano is in the saddle, and has faced some horrible trips if you look in the comment lines. A clean trip is needed badly. Take #2, #5, #6, and #8.

The ticket total should add up to the sweet ring of $72. This will be a small amount for the swelled Pick-4 pool. I would suggest if any of the early legs fall short, that you continue making a Pick-3 to cover costs and score big.

Good luck!