SARATOGA SPRINGS – Bernardini, winner of his last four starts by margins ranging from 3 3/4 to nine lengths, drew the 5 hole in a field of seven when post positions were drawn yesterday for Saturday’s $1 million Travers Stakes.

The A.P. Indy colt, coming off runaway scores in the Withers, Preakness and Jim Dandy, was listed as the even-money favorite on the morning line but will certainly go off odds-on, perhaps as low as 3-5 under Javier Castellano.

Bluegrass Cat, seven-length winner of the Haskell at Monmouth Park last out after running second in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes, is 2-1 breaking from post 7 with John Velazquez up.

Kip Deville, longest shot on the program at 30-1 who figures to set the pace if he starts, was a surprise entrant for trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. after tiring to finish sixth in the Virginia Derby on turf, run at the Travers distance of a mile-and-a-quarter.

After prepping for the “Midsummer Derby” with a sensational score in the July 29 Jim Dandy at the Old Spa, when Castellano geared him down the final furlong and he still won by a pole, Bernardini appears unbeatable no matter where he runs or whom he runs against.

“I’d like to think that,” said trainer Tom Albertrani, who has dead aim on the 3-year-old championship and Horse of the Year. “Hopefully, he runs his race as he has in the Preakness and Jim Dandy. I would love to see that kind of performance again.

“This morning, he was out on the track rearing up and almost got loose from the pony. He was prancing around the shedrow, and I haven’t seen him do that in a while. He couldn’t be in better shape, so I’m getting all the right signs from this horse.”

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Travers field box

Post Horse Trainer Jockey Odds

1. Hesanoldsalt Nick Zito Eibar Coa 15-1

2. Minister’s Bid John Ward Edgar Prado 8-1

3. Dr. Pleasure John Ward Cornelio Velasquez 12-1

4. High Cotton Todd Pletcher Garrett Gomez 6-1

5. Bernardini Tom Albertrani Javier Castellano 1-1

6. Kip Deville Rick Dutrow Jr. Rafael Bejarano 30-1

7. Bluegrass Cat Todd Pletcher John Velazquez 2-1