Alpha, winner of four graded stakes races, is the favorite to win at the Travers Stakes in a field of three year olds devoid of Triple Crown victories.
Alpha is looking to follow in the footsteps of his sire, Bernadini, who also won the Jim Dandy as a run-up to the Travers in 2006 before taking the Midsummer Derby. Without any of the major contenders from this year's Triple Crown races - Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner I'll Have Another is retired, as is Belmont Stakes winner Union Rags and two-time second-place horse Bodemeister. That leaves Alpha, who finished 12th in the Kentucky Derby field, as the 5-2 favorite.
However, he's not the only horse with a shot at winning. Neck 'n Neck finished just behind Alpha at the Jim Dandy, and has 9-2 odds, while Nonios, who has three wins this year and takes 4-1 odds. Street Life, who has 5-1 odds, is the other horse in the field to have won his last race, easily taking the Curlin after finishing fourth at the Belmont Stakes. Liaison is another strong candidate, with a sixth-place in the Kentucky Derby and being the only horse in the field to have won a Grade 1 stakes race, although that came last December.
For more on the Travers Stakes, including odds, check this Storystream and SB Nation New York. Also check out SBN's horse racing blog, And Down The Stretch They Come.