Watch: Kentucky Derby second Epicenter powers to 'special' Travers Stakes win

Saturday: Runhappy Travers Stakes (Grade 1), Saratoga

Connections of Epicenter described a dominant victory in the Travers Stakes as "everything you hope for" after the Kentucky Derby runner-up produced a scintillating performance to strike at Grade 1 level for the first time.

A record crowd of 49,672 watched the Steve Asmussen-trained colt, sent off an even-money favourite, move from a prominent position to sprint clear by five and a quarter lengths under Joel Rosario.

The son of Not This Time was sent off favourite in the Churchill Downs Classic but fast-finishing Rich Strike burst past him late to produce a mighty shock at 81-1. Epicenter also took second in the Preakness Stakes behind Early Voting.

Yet following a change of luck at Saratoga in July, he decisively made his claim for the Breeders' Cup Classic at the end of the season, for which bet365 now make him 5-1 (from 9).

Asmussen, the all-time winningmost trainer in the US, quoted by BloodHorse, said: "He's exciting, isn't he? Thank goodness a sportsman owns him. It's everything you hope for. You start with a talented horse who continues to get better. What can be better in racing than that?

"I loved seeing that. He turned in a dominating performance against a very good group. He was in the rhythm he wanted to be in, and he finished off very strong."

It was an emotional first win in the race for owners Winchell Thoroughbreds, having gone within a neck of Saratoga's biggest race last year with Midnight Bourbon.

The Winchell family – best known for founding one of America's largest donut franchises in their own name – also finished third with subsequent Breeders' Cup Classic winner Gun Runner in this race in 2016.

Ron Winchell, who leads the racing and breeding operation started by father Verne, said: "Winning beats dreaming about winning. Rarely does it happen, but to actually see it happen, what can be better than that? When he tipped out and made his move, you could see he was rolling and full of running.

"Coming here with Gun Runner and Midnight Bourbon running makes you want to win it that much more. It makes this win that much more special for me and my family."

Earlier on the Saratoga card, the Aidan O'Brien-trained Broome was a beaten favourite in the Grade 1 Sword Dancer Stakes. Winner of the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot this season, he made some ground in the stretch after a sluggish start to finish fourth behind defending champion Gufo.

Malathaat (Personal Ensign Stakes), Jack Christopher (H Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes) and Cody's Wish (Forego Stakes), who caused a huge upset by beating Jackie's Warrior, were the other top-level winners on a 13-race card that generated betting turnover of $55,559,315, a new record for Saratoga. It was up more than $3m from pre-Covid levels.

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