Saratoga Springs, NY (My Sportsbook) - The top two finishers in last Sunday's Jim Dandy Stakes, Macho Again and Pyro, are definite starters for the $1 million Travers Stakes on Saturday, August 23 at Saratoga Race Course.

The Travers, also known as the "Mid-Summer Derby", could have much the same field as the Jim Dandy plus Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Big Brown. Big Brown is set to start in the Haskell at Monmouth Park this Sunday.

Owned by West Point Thoroughbreds, Macho Again posted a half-length victory over 3-2 favorite Pyro in the Jim Dandy. Macho Again was making his first start since the Belmont Stakes where he was third to Da' Tara.

"This was no easy spot for Macho Again," trainer Dallas Stewart said. "This was a giant step for him. He beat a lot of nice horses in this race. We're looking ahead at the Travers. Physically, he looks great. Mentally, he looks good."

Jim Dandy runner-up Pyro is also being pointed toward the Travers by trainer Steve Asmussen.

"The Travers is definitely there, it's on the calendar," said Asmussen. "It would be nice if it came around and he was doing good for it."

Between his eighth-place result in the Kentucky Derby and the Jim Dandy, Pyro had one start. He won the Northern Dancer Stakes at Churchill Downs on June 14.

Trainer Nick Zito expects his two runners from the Jim Dandy to be in the Travers. Belmon Stakes winner Da' Tara finished last in the seven horse field after hooking up with Mint Lane in a speed duel. Anak Nakal was fifth and still has not won in 2008.

"If they have a good month, we'll just regroup," said Zito.

A new face in the Travers may be Mambo in Seattle. Owned by William S. Farish, Mambo in Seattle won the Henry Walton Stakes on the Jim Dandy card. Sunday's race was the first stakes appearance for the colt.

"We have a lot of optimism about him,' trainer Neil Howard said. "We got a little bit of a late start on him, but he has kept moving forward. We were glad to get this next step up in him without going into the Jim Dandy. I'll have to talk to Mr. Farish (about the Travers)."