2021 Travers Stakes morning-line odds, picks: Handicapping wunderkind offers bet strategy for Saturday's $1 million race

The stars of the Triple Crown trail return when the starting gate opens in the 2021 Travers Stakes on Saturday at Saratoga Race Course. Belmont Stakes winner Essential Quality, who has seven wins in eight career starts, is the 4-5 favorite in the 2021 Travers Stakes odds. Post time is 6:12 p.m. ET. Before you make any Travers Stakes picks, you NEED to see what handicapping wunderkind Matt Bernier has to say.

Bernier is one of the country's most recognizable horse racing analysts. An on-air contributor to NBC's horse racing telecasts and the host of The Matt Bernier Show podcast, Bernier first gained renown in 2013 when, at 23 years old, he became the youngest qualifier at the time to qualify for the National Horseplayers Championship. Two of his biggest scores came in 2014. In the prestigious Breeders' Cup Betting Challenge that year Bernier finished sixth, earning $61,000 for the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance charity. Later that year he won $40,000 after winning the Aqueduct handicapping championship.

Now, Bernier has handicapped the 2021 Travers Stakes field, made his picks and constructed his bets. 

One shocker: Bernier is completely fading Midnight Bourbon, even though he is one of the top favorites at 9-2. "Despite the tactical edge he'll have in Saturday's Travers, there's reason to question his ability to successfully see out the 10-furlong trip," Bernier told SportsLine. Bernier is not using Midnight Bourbon on any of his tickets.

Instead, Bernier's top pick is a horse who is poised to "deliver the best race of his career!" He also is high on a horse who has an "affinity for longer distances." Bernier is including these horses in his 2021 Travers Stakes bets, and so should you. You ABSOLUTELY need to see his picks before locking in any of your own.

Who wins the 2021 Travers Stakes? And which horse is a MUST-BACK?... Join SportsLine right now to get the top 2021 Travers Stakes picks and bets, all from the handicapping wunderkind who has crushed on racing's biggest days!