On a similar wavelength, I was doing some research on the Haskell-Travers and found some interesting things:

Seven horses have won both races, with the most recent being Point Given in 2001

All seven of those winners came when there was either two or three weeks between the Haskell and Travers (AVG days between 18.6)

Only Point Given had previously run in (and won) the Belmont. The seven Haskell-Travers double winners averaged one 3YO classic prior to attempting the Travers


Since 1995 (excluding 2020), 61% of Haskell winners have run in the Travers. 71% of those Haskell winners have been favored. 94% have been first or second choice and only 12% have won.

Starting in roughly 2011, there's been 4+ weeks in between the Haskell and Travers. Going back to Coil in 2011, the average place of finish for a Haskell winner in the Travers is 6.4, down 3.5 places since Bluegrass Cat was the last horse to attempt the double on shorter rest. Those horses weren't bums; Bayern, Exaggerator, Dornoch's dad Good Magic. American Pharoah and Cybernknife managed to finish second.

Dornoch is a gutty horse, but the Haskell-Travers seems like a tough double to win and it's only gotten tougher since more time has been added between races.

Brian