11.35 DraftKings Travers Stakes (Grade 1) 1m 2f

American racing gets plenty of rough rides but for top competition and the race of the year, you will not go further than tonight’s Travers Stakes, where the top three-year-old colts take each other on in a field of 10 that includes the winners of the Kentucky Derby, Belmont Stakes, the Preakness and the Haskell Stakes.

Also add in the best maiden in the country in Derby third Ocelli, and the horse who started favourite for the Derby and subsequent Jim Dandy winner Renegade, and a dark horse in the Chad Brown-trained Sea Strick who had only three runs but was very impressive in the Listed Curlin Stakes beating a decent horse in Chief Wallabee by over eight lengths, and it’s some race.

Napoleon Solo won the Preakness from the front, but was disappointing against a tough Baby Vino in the Haskell.

Golden Tempo bids to consolidate his position as the top dog, after he added the Belmont Stakes to his Kentucky Derby where he had Renegade a neck back and he possibly got a better run than the favourite, albeit he was far off the pace early. Renegade was then over five lengths behind in the Belmont, but his Jim Dandy looked a better performance and Golden Tempo is coming off a longer spell having missed work after the Belmont.

SELECTION: Renegade

Next Best: Golden Tempo

Rest of the Card

There are some short-priced favourites in the other Grade 1s on the card.

The seven-furlong Grade 1 H Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes (8.19pm) has a hot favourite in the Cherie DeVaux-trained Englishman, who many think is one of the top three-year-olds and romped home over this distance in the Grade 1 Woody Stephens Stakes here at Saratoga last time.

One of the top sprinters in the US, Book’em Danno looks unopposable in the seven-furlong Forego Stakes (10.11pm).

The Grade 1 Personal Ensign Stakes (8.55) for fillies and mares over nine furlongs and Fully Subscribed and Scottish Lassie are the main two, having fought out the finish of the Grade 2 Shuvee Stakes last time.

Ways And Means is the morning-line favourite among a line-up of 12 older fillies and mares in what looks like an open Ballerina Stakes (10.49pm) over seven furlongs.

The Brad Cox-trained Eclatant, on a four-timer looks a big danger.

The first of the big money weekend begins at Kentucky Downs and there is one British runner as Richard Hughes sends over the four-year-old filly Sayidah Dariyan for the Grade 1 Never Say Die Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf Sprint Stakes (10.40pm). Brian Hernandez takes the ride.

Second over seven furlongs at Goodwood on her latest start, she faces a tough rival in the top-sprinting mare Ag Bullet in a field of 12 over this sharp six and a half furlongs. The six-year-old Richard Baltas-trained mare won this for the last two years and was second on her only run this season in a Saratoga Grade 1 last time.

Del Mar

At Del Mar, there are two Grade 2 contests and all eyes will be on the Irish-bred Gold Phoenix, as the son of Belardo goes for a fifth win in a row in the Del Mar Handicap. He comes in good form, having won the Grade 2 Eddie Read Stakes last time.

Test Score and Juan Hernandez for Graham Motion looks the big danger.