We’re just two weeks away from a showdown of showdowns for 3-year-old superiority – the $1.25 million Travers Stakes (G1).
The 157th edition of the Travers, aka the Midsummer Derby, on Aug, 29 could be the defining race in deciding the champion 3-year-old and perhaps the Horse of the Year.
Golden Tempo, the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Belmont Stakes (G1) winner, is at the head of the 3-year-old class and has been training steadily at Saratoga for the 1 ¼-mile Travers, the same distance as the Derby and the Belmont.
Yes, trainer Cherie DeVaux kept Golden Tempo out of the Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) after the colt missed training time due to a brief illness. But he’s been in fine form the past few weeks and worked Saturday (Aug. 15) at Saratoga, going 4 furlongs in 47.46 seconds under regular jockey Jose Ortiz.
Close behind in the run for a championship is Renegade, the Jim Dandy winner who finished a close second in the Derby, third in the Belmont, and has an impressive Arkansas Derby (G1) victory on his resume.
Napoleon Solo, the Preakness Stakes (G1) winner, is possible for the Travers. Trainer Chad Summers bypassed the Derby in favor of the Preakness and then skipped the Belmont for the $1 million Haskell Stakes (G1), where he finished second to Baby Vino.
Napoleon Solo posted a 5-furlong workout at Saratoga on Thursday (Aug. 13) at the Spa with Hall of Famer John Velazquez aboard for the first time, but regular rider Paco Lopez now looks available after his recent suspension won’t take place until next year. Summers seems to be leaning toward the Travers, but the Pennsylvania Derby (G1) on Sept. 19 also is under consideration.
A late-developing 3-year-old is Baby Vino, riding a three-race winning streak and Travers bound for trainer Lindsay Schultz.
Other Travers probables include Silent Tactic, second in the Rebel Stakes (G2), the Arkansas Derby and third in the Jim Dandy; The Puma, the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) winner and third in the Haskell; Emerging Market, the Louisiana Derby (G2) winner looking to rebound from off-the-board finishes in the Derby and Belmont; and Sea Strike, recent winner of the Curlin Stakes at Saratoga.
Possible for the Travers include Ocelli, racing’s richest maiden (0-for-9 with earnings of $842,300) with a close third in the Derby and fourth in the Preakness and Commandment, the Florida Derby (G1) winner who ran second in the Belmont and the Jim Dandy.
After Saturday’s work, Golden Tempo’s fourth since the Belmont at Saratoga, DeVaux was happy with his progress.
“He worked very well,” DeVaux said. “Jumped right in the bridle, settled in nicely, and had a nice gallop out. We didn’t have him gallop out the way he has his last couple of works – just kind of eased him down just because he’s been doing a lot.”
A Phipps Stable and St. Elias Stable homebred, Golden Tempo has won four of six starts with earnings of $4,633,000. He closed from last to first to win the Derby by a neck over Renegade, then pulled off the same last-to-first dash in winning the Belmont by 1 ¼ lengths over Commandment.
“He seems fit, he seems really happy,” DeVaux said. “He’s had a couple of really nice works, solid, and he’s not overly exerted, so I think he’s in a really good place.”
Ortiz is in a good place, too. After he moved his tack to Kentucky from New York in 2024, his career has soared. Not only does he ride Golden Tempo, but he’s also the regular rider for Grade 1 winners Magnitude and Englishman, and fillies Nitrogen, Always a Runner and Kathynmarissa
“We wanted 48 [seconds] today,” Ortiz said. “He went a little bit more, 47, but he did it on his own. The gallop out was good. He was in the bridle today. Just let him be happy, stretch his legs. I was very happy with him. We need peak performance to win the Travers.”
Renegade, trained by Todd Pletcher with Jose’s older brother Irad Ortiz, Jr., the regular rider, posted a workout Friday at the Spa, going 4-furlongs in 50.66 seconds on Friday (Aug. 14). It was the Into Mischief colt’s first work since rallying from last to first to win the Jim Dandy by a half-length over Commandment.
“He’s shown good energy from Day One. After the Jim Dandy, he’s been enthusiastic in his training,” Pletcher said. “His appetite’s been excellent, so we are happy about him.”
The Travers comes four weeks after the Jim Dandy, and Pletcher believes Renegade will be ready for another big effort.
“I’d say it’s a little surprising and encouraging. I like the way he recovered from the race so quickly, so it gives us optimism that he’ll run his ‘A’ race back in four weeks.”
The potential field for the Travers Stakes (G1): Golden Tempo, Renegade, Silent Tactic, Baby Vino, The Puma, Emerging Market, Sea Strike, Commandment, Napoleon Solo, Ocelli and Sabino Canyon.
Richard Rosenblatt is an award-winning journalist and former Associated Press Horse Racing Editor. Currently, he serves as the news editor at US Racing, overseeing exclusive content from contributors worldwide.
