Photo: Al Bello / Getty Images Sport / Getty Images
The New York Racing Association (NYRA) is celebrating a triumphant Travers Stakes weekend at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs. Over 48,000 fans witnessed Sovereignty make history by becoming the first horse to win the Kentucky Derby, Belmont Stakes, Jim Dandy, and Travers Stakes in the same year. Trained by Bill Mott and ridden by jockey Junior Alvarado, Sovereignty delivered a remarkable 10-length victory, showcasing one of the fastest times in the race's storied history. The colt, owned by Godolphin, has now won four consecutive races and earned over $5.8 million.
Other notable winners on Saturday (August 23) included Thorpedo Anna, who outperformed Dorth Vader to secure a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, and Book’em Danno, who claimed victory in the Forego Stakes, earning a place in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile. Both horses, along with Sovereignty, have solidified their reputations as top contenders for the upcoming Breeders’ Cup in November.
The Travers Stakes, known as the "Mid-Summer Derby," is one of the oldest stakes races for three-year-old horses in the United States. This year's event, held on DraftKings Travers Day, featured 14 races, including six graded stakes, and offered a variety of fan experiences, such as complimentary souvenir photo magnets and tastings of Bulleit Bourbon and Tres Agaves Organic Tequila.
As the excitement from the weekend continues, NYRA is set to kick off Fan Appreciation Week at "The Spa" starting Wednesday (August 27), offering fans more opportunities to engage with the sport and its stars.