Pharoah Takes on All Challengers in Grade 1 Travers Stakes

American Pharoah will break from post 2 while looming over the field as the 1/5 favorite following his successful bid as the first Triple Crown champion in 36 years and romping in the Grade 1 Haskell Stakes in July for good measure. With the exception of a hard-fought win in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby, the Bob Baffert trainee has looked invincible while winning the Preakness, Belmont and Haskell with absurd ease. Any fear that American Pharoah could be tiring from his demanding campaign appears to have been allayed by his successful workout Sunday August 23 at Del Mar under Baffert’s watchful eye. The field would likely need a miscue or uncharacteristically poor effort from American Pharoah in order to seriously challenge for win honors.

Frosted looks ready for sharp effort 

Frosted (6/1) ran well to be second behind American Pharoah in the Belmont Stakes and returned with another second place effort in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy after losing a shoe. Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin has expressed his confidence in the gray son of Tapit following a string of workouts at the Spa. Frosted should be picking up the pieces late under jockey Joel Rosario.

BC Juvenile champ rounding into form 

Texas Red is a surprising 8/1 on the morning line despite having bested Frosted in the Jim Dandy and wining the 2014 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile in dominant fashion. Trained by Keith Desormeaux and ridden by brother Kent Desormeaux, Texas Red is an obvious contender who should appreciate the 1 1/4-mile distance.