Emerging Market: Post1; Morning Line: 15-1
Trainer: Chad Brown; Jockey: Ricardo Santana, Jr.
Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026
A victory over Golden Tempo in the Louisiana Derby (G2) in March – in just his second start – was impressive. The Candy Ride chestnut colt earned his way into the Kentucky Derby (G1) with the win. However, he had a horrible Kentucky Derby, finishing 10th of 18, then ran an uninspiring fifth in the Belmont Stakes (G1) five weeks later. On July 26, he was beaten three lengths by Wynstock in an optional claimer at Saratoga. Top rider Flavien Prat has been aboard all five of the colt’s races, but Ricardo Santana, Jr., rides on Saturday, with Prat aboard Sea Strike, Brown’s other Travers entry.
“One of these days, he will circle back to that Louisiana Derby victory,’’ Brown told thoroughbreddailynews.com after Emerging Market worked 4 furlongs in 48.30 seconds at Saratoga on Saturday (Aug. 23).
Brown, who grew up in nearby Mechanicville, is seeking his first Travers victory. Since 2011, he’s sent out 19 Travers starters, with three third-place finishes his best, most recently with Sierra Leone in 2024.
The biggest question is whether he can rebound from his Triple Crown travails.
He’s won twice in five starts racing from mid-pack trying to rally in the stretch. Flavien Prat, the Eclipse Award winner as the nation’s top jockey the past two years, has been aboard Emerging Market for all five starts. He chose Brown’s other Travers entry, the lightly-race Sea Strike and Ricardo Santana, Jr., will be aboard for the first time.
It’s hard to see Emerging Market’s race scenario changing from his mid-pack racing style. Napoleon Solo and several other longshots are likely to be in front at the start, with deep-closing favorites Golden Tempo and Renegade staging their usual rallies. But his off-the-board finishes in the Derby and Belmont – the same 1 ¼-mile distance as the Travers seems like he might not have much of a shot.
An exceptional run is needed for Emerging Market to re-emerge as top-flight 3-year-old. The colt showed his class by edging Pavlovian and a closing Golden Tempo in the 1 1/16-mile Louisiana Derby. The way it looks, the 1 ¼ miles might just be too much distance, especially in this elite field.
-- Jenny Kellner
Jenny Kellner is an award-winning journalist and teacher who has covered thoroughbred racing for years. As a reporter for both United Press International and The Associated Press, her work has appeared in publications and on websites around the world. Jenny has also written for The New York Times, the New York Post, Newsday and Sports Illustrated.
