The $1.25 million Travers Stakes (G1) gained a new face Aug. 15 as BBN Racing's Bracket Buster is planned to ship to Saratoga Race Course for the Aug. 23 race.
The son of Vekoma 's entry in the Travers was confirmed to BloodHorse by BBN founding partner Brian Klatsky following his Friday morning workout at Keeneland. The bay colt was clocked in :47 4/5 for four furlongs over the main track.
Klatsky said Bracket Buster was sharp in his final major preparation for the 1 1/4-mile test, noting that him being a May 22 foal leaves connections hopeful they have yet to see the best version of him in the afternoon.
In the Travers, Bracket Buster is expected to face the challenge of Kentucky Derby (G1) and Belmont Stakes (G1) winner Sovereignty, who he was defeated by last fall when fifth in the Street Sense Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs. That race was followed by a 5 1/2-month layoff before Bracket Buster kicked off his 3-year-old season in April with a runner-up effort to eventual two-time grade 1-placed Gosger in Keeneland's Lexington Stakes (G3).
In June, Bracket Buster dominated his rivals in a seven-length victory in the Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth Park. He then finished fourth in the Haskell Stakes (G1) July 19.
The bay colt holds a record of 2-1-1 from eight starts for earnings of $286,318. Bred in Kentucky by David Baxter, he was a $125,000 purchase by BBN from the Hunter Valley Farm consignment at the 2023 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. He is out of the stakes-winning Dance With Ravens mare Spring Dance.
