Golden Tempo Heads Strong Travers Field as Kentucky Derby Rivals Meet Again
The field is set for the 2026 Travers Stakes, and Saratoga’s famous “Mid-Summer Derby” has brought together many of the leading three-year-olds we have been following since the Kentucky Derby trail began.
At the center of it all is Golden Tempo, winner of both the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes, who has been made the 5-2 morning-line favorite for Saturday’s Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers.
Ten horses have been declared for the 1¼-mile race, including Kentucky Derby runner-up Renegade, Preakness winner Napoleon Solo, Haskell winner Baby Vino, Louisiana Derby winner Emerging Market and the lightly raced but exciting Sea Strike.
For Golden Tempo, however, this is about more than another Grade 1.
It is his first race since winning the Belmont in June, and another chance to confirm that he is the leading three-year-old colt in America.
Golden Tempo Returns After Illness
Golden Tempo has already answered plenty of questions this season.
Sent off at 23-1 in the Kentucky Derby, the Cherie DeVaux-trained colt came from the back of the field under Jose Ortiz and caught Renegade late to win by a neck.
Connections decided against running in the Preakness, giving him additional time before the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga.
That decision paid off.
Golden Tempo again came from off the pace and won the Belmont by 1¼ lengths, giving him two wins from two attempts at the Travers distance of 1¼ miles.
The plan had then been to use the Jim Dandy as his local Travers prep, but a bacterial infection in late June interrupted his summer.
Rather than rush him back, DeVaux decided to train directly into the Travers.
His recent work suggests things have gone well. Golden Tempo produced a sharp 47.46-second half-mile work on August 15 before a gentler 49.66-second move on Saturday.
DeVaux says he is fit, happy and coming into the race in a good place.
Golden Tempo has drawn post nine, which is unlikely to be a major concern given his usual running style. Ortiz tends to let him settle before asking for his run later in the race.
Renegade Gets Another Chance
If one horse deserves another opportunity against Golden Tempo, it is Renegade.
The Todd Pletcher-trained colt was beaten only a neck in the Kentucky Derby and subsequently finished third behind Golden Tempo in the Belmont.
Unlike his Derby rival, however, Renegade has raced since then.
He returned at Saratoga on August 1 to win the Grade 2 Jim Dandy, coming from well off the pace to establish himself as one of the main Travers contenders. NYRA notes that he has now finished in the first three in all eight of his career starts.
His earlier season also gives the Travers another important Kentucky Derby prep connection.
Renegade won both the Sam F. Davis Stakes and Arkansas Derby before going to Churchill Downs.
There is one important change on Saturday.
Regular rider Irad Ortiz Jr. is recovering from a foot injury, so Tyler Gaffalione takes over. Renegade starts from post five and is the 3-1 second choice on the morning line.
Preakness Winner Napoleon Solo Joins the Rematch
Golden Tempo skipped the Preakness, while Renegade went directly from the Derby to the Belmont.
That means Saturday will be the first time they have shared a starting gate with Napoleon Solo.
The Chad Summers-trained colt won the Preakness at 7-1 before finishing a narrow second to Baby Vino in the Haskell.
Napoleon Solo is expected to be much closer to the early pace than either Golden Tempo or Renegade, which could make him an important part of how the race develops.
John Velazquez takes the ride from post three, with Napoleon Solo priced at 8-1.
Sea Strike Could Be the Wild Card
Perhaps the hardest horse to judge is Sea Strike.
The Chad Brown-trained colt has raced only three times.
After winning on debut and then finishing fifth against older horses in an allowance race, Sea Strike stepped up dramatically when sent around two turns for the first time in the Curlin Stakes at Saratoga.
He won by 8¼ lengths.
That performance has earned him a place in much stronger company, with bookmakers making him the 5-1 third choice.
Sea Strike lacks the experience and major-race record of Golden Tempo and Renegade, but there could still be more improvement to come.
Plenty of Kentucky Derby Prep Form
The strength of this Travers field becomes clearer when you look further down the betting.
Emerging Market, at 15-1, won the Louisiana Derby before finishing tenth in the Kentucky Derby and fifth in the Belmont.
The Puma, an 8-1 chance, won the Tampa Bay Derby and was beaten just a nose in the Florida Derby. He missed the Kentucky Derby after suffering a leg problem and returned to finish fourth in the Haskell.
Haskell winner Baby Vino is 10-1, while Silent Tactic, runner-up in the Arkansas Derby earlier this year, is also 10-1.
Then there is unbeaten Leading Change, who has raced only twice but followed a maiden victory with success in the Indiana Derby. He is 12-1.
Ocelli, still a maiden despite earning more than $800,000, completes the field at 20-1. His form includes third in the Kentucky Derby, fourth in the Preakness and second in the Ohio Derby.
A Race That Could Settle the Three-Year-Old Debate
Golden Tempo has already built the strongest record among this crop.
He has won the Kentucky Derby and Belmont and is unbeaten at 1¼ miles.
But the Travers gives his rivals another chance.
Renegade arrives after winning the Jim Dandy. Napoleon Solo brings Preakness-winning form. Baby Vino won the Haskell, while Sea Strike is the improving horse attempting to make a big jump into Grade 1 company.
For followers of the Kentucky Derby trail, the race is particularly interesting because so many of the major spring races are represented.
The Arkansas Derby, Florida Derby, Louisiana Derby, Tampa Bay Derby, Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont have all helped produce horses in Saturday’s field.
The 157th Travers Stakes is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. ET on Saturday, August 29, as Race 13 on a 14-race Saratoga card that includes five Grade 1 races.
Golden Tempo may start as favorite, but this is his first race for almost three months and several of his old rivals arrive with unfinished business.
The Kentucky Derby rematch is on, and this time the Preakness winner is coming too.
