Golden Tempo Preps for Travers Stakes at Saratoga Race Course
The 157th running of the $1,250,000 Travers Stakes takes place on Saturday, August 29, 2026, at Saratoga Race Course, featuring dual classic winner Golden Tempo as the 5-2 morning-line favorite. Ridden by Jose Ortiz and trained by Cherie DeVaux, the colt chases a historic three-year-old campaign sweep following victories in the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes, according to OffTrackBetting.com.
Golden Tempo Leads the 157th Travers Stakes Field at Saratoga
As the summer racing calendar reaches its apex at the Spa, the Midsummer Derby anchors a massive 14-race program featuring five Grade 1 events. According to OffTrackBetting.com, the Saturday card includes the $500,000 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial alongside Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” qualifiers like the Personal Ensign Stakes, the Forego Stakes, and the Ballerina Stakes. Within this high-stakes ecosystem, the 10-furlong Travers serves as the ultimate test for sophomore dirt routers.
Golden Tempo enters the gate aiming to validate a resume that already includes a dramatic last-to-first rally in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs and a 1 1/4-length score in the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes, as reported by OffTrackBetting.com. After missing a brief window of training in late June due to an illness, the Curlin bay bypassed the Grade 2 Jim Dandy on August 1. Trainer Cherie DeVaux redirected the colt’s preparation directly to the Travers, sending him through five breezes over the Saratoga main track, including a half-mile in 49.66 seconds on August 22.
“He is so classy, he is so professional. He’s been like that his entire life,” DeVaux said, as detailed by OffTrackBetting.com. “He’s a horse who just continues to improve and continues to mature and change.”
Top Contenders Threatening the Favorite in the Midsummer Derby
While Golden Tempo commands the market at 5/2 from post 9, a deep field of ten rivals seeks to upset the division leader. Renegade is listed second at 3/1 odds from post 5 for trainer Todd Pletcher, according to OffTrackBetting.com. Owned by Repole Stable and Robert and Lawana Low, Renegade finished as the Kentucky Derby runner-up before securing a local victory in the Jim Dandy at Saratoga.
“I have great respect for Renegade. I feel like they are all rivals when you are the favorite. Everybody is out to get you,” DeVaux noted, per OffTrackBetting.com.
Napoleon Solo enters at 8/1 from post 3 for trainer Chad Summers, standing as the only other classic winner in the lineup after capturing the Grade 1 Preakness Stakes, as outlined by OffTrackBetting.com. Meanwhile, Baby Vino drew post 8 at 10/1 odds for trainer Lindsay Schultz following an upset victory in the Haskell at 28/1, where he defeated Napoleon Solo by half a length on a sloppy track, according to OffTrackBetting.com.
Trainer Chad Brown sends out a formidable two-pronged attack with Sea Strike at 5/1 under Flavien Prat from post 7, and Emerging Market at 15/1 under Ricardo Santana, Jr. from post 1. Additional contenders include The Puma at 8/1 for trainer Gustavo Delgado, Leading Change at 12/1 for Brad Cox, Silent Tactic at 10/1 for Mark Casse, and Ocelli at 20/1 for D.
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