The 157^th edition of the $1 million DraftKings Travers Stakes Saturday at Saratoga Race Course shapes up to be the defining race in determining 3-year-old male champion honors for 2026 at January’s Eclipse Awards. The storied “Mid-Summer Derby” is unquestionably one of the most prestigious prizes in North American Thoroughbred racing. Ten Travers winners have been named Horse of the Year, most recently Sovereignty last year, and 25 have been named champion 3-year-old male, an award Sovereignty unanimously won in 2025.

If Golden Tempo, winner of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve and Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets, can add the prestigious Travers to his portfolio and achieve the same triple Sovereignty did last year, the champion 3-year-old male Eclipse is his and he’ll also boost his chances at being honored as Horse of the Year. But if another horse from this talented field prevails, there will still be a chance, however slight, that a strong follow-up performance against older horses in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic Oct. 31 could make the Travers winner’s late-season surge Eclipse-worthy. 

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The list of Travers champs who etched their names into horse racing lore is long, and a very select rundown starting with Sovereignty includes Arrogate (2016), Street Sense (2007), Point Given (2001), Holy Bull (1994), Easy Goer (1989), Alydar (1979), Arts and Letters (1969), Damascus (1967), Buckpasser (1966), Native Dancer (1953), Whirlaway (1941), Granville (1936), and Man o’ War (1920).

This year’s Travers field is exceptionally strong. In addition to Golden Tempo, it includes Renegade, narrow runner-up in the Kentucky Derby and recent winner of the Jim Dandy Stakes Presented by Mohegan Sun; Preakness Stakes winner Napoleon Solo; NYRA Bets Haskell Stakes upset winner Baby Vino; and several other stakes winners. The Travers anchors a stakes-rich Saturday card at Saratoga and will be televised live nationwide on FOX during NYRA’s “Saratoga Saturdays” program, with a scheduled post time of 6:35 p.m. ET.

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Read on for information about each of the Travers contenders plus some gambling insights.

Susie Raisher/NYRA

1. Emerging Market (15-1 morning-line odds)

Jockey: Ricardo Santana Jr.

Trainer: Chad Brown

Owner: Klaravich Stables

Career record: 5 starts – 2 wins – 1 second – 0 thirds

Career earnings: $703,880

Top Equibase Speed Figure: 98

Pedigree: Candy Ride – Wild Empress, by Empire Maker

Color: Chestnut

Running style: Stalker

Analysis: Emerging Market received considerable support from bettors in the Kentucky Derby as a backstretch “buzz” horse after winning his first two races in early 2026, including the Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby. He tired badly in the Derby from a good stalking position to finish 10^th, however, and subsequently checked in fifth of nine in the Belmont Stakes held on this track. In his prep for the Travers, Emerging Market finished a disappointing second by three lengths to 5-year-old horse and prior stakes winner Wynstock in a 1 1/8-mile allowance-optional claiming race July 25, also at Saratoga. Emerging Market was favored at 1-2 odds in that race but had no acceleration in the stretch. He earned a 98 Equibase Speed Figure in defeat, a career-best, yet even so appears to have plateaued as a racehorse, even though he’s only made five career starts. Flavien Prat rode him in all five of those races but stays with Chad Brown’s other Travers entrant, Sea Strike, while Ricardo Santana Jr., who’s having a good Saratoga meet, gets aboard.

Bet Emerging Market in the Travers Stakes

Coady Media

2. Leading Change (12-1)

Jockey: Manny Franco

Trainer: Brad Cox

Owner: Wathnan Racing

Career record: 2 starts – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Career earnings: $246,696

Top Equibase Speed Figure: 101

Pedigree: Gun Runner – Starship Warpspeed, by Congrats

Color: Bay

Running style: Press the pace

Analysis: This well-bred Gun Runner colt comes into the Travers undefeated following a neck win in the July 11 Indiana Derby held at 1 1/16 miles, in which he prevailed as the 1-2 favorite. He’ll be a longshot to win Saturday’s much tougher assignment but should be a factor in the outcome as he projects to join Napoleon Solo and potentially one or two others among the horses vying to set the pace. Leading Change had won a seven-furlong maiden race at Churchill Downs by 6 ½ lengths prior to his Indiana Derby triumph and, in terms of pedigree, should be able to handle the Travers’ mile-and-a-quarter distance as he’s a half-brother (same sire [father], different dam [mother]) to $2.7 million earner and Kentucky Oaks winner Shedaresthedevil. He bumped his Equibase Figure up from 90 to 101 from his debut to the Indiana Derby, and he’ll need another rise in order to overcome early pace pressure and then be able to hold off the likes of Golden Tempo and Renegade in the stretch. Red-hot jockey Manny Franco, winner of the 2020 Travers, takes the reins for the first time and figures to be aggressive out of the gate for trainer Brad Cox, who won this race in 2021.

Bet Leading Change in the Travers Stakes

Bill Denver/EQUI-PHOTO

3. Napoleon Solo (8-1)

Jockey: John Velazquez

Trainer: Chad Summers

Owner: Espoir USA

Career record: 6 starts – 3 wins – 1 second – 0 thirds

Career earnings: $1,760,520

Top Equibase Speed Figure: 102

Pedigree: Liam’s Map – Atomic Blonde, by Scat Daddy

Color: Gray or roan

Running style: Press the pace

Analysis: Napoleon Solo has proven himself one of the most talented racehorses in his age group, having won the Champagne Stakes at 2 last fall and the Preakness Stakes in May. There’s still a faint aura of disrespect surrounding his accomplishments however, as he’s yet to face divisional leaders Golden Tempo and Renegade. That changes Saturday as he gets both of them in a loaded Travers Stakes. If he can pull the upset, his journey from being a $40,000 yearling purchase to a probable finalist for 3-year-old champion will be complete. Napoleon Solo enters off of a half-length loss to longshot Baby Vino in the 1 1/8-mile Haskell Stakes, a race in which he ran very well and earned a career-best 102 Equibase Speed Figure but was outfinished late. He was subsequently sold privately for an undisclosed amount and if he wins the Travers – at a distance longer than he’s raced at before and arguably longer than he is bred for – his value as a stallion will increase. Even based on his above accomplishments, it’s difficult to envision Napoleon Solo having the stamina to muster a win against this competition racing 1 ¼ miles at Saratoga. He’s far too classy to discount, however, and he’ll get the services of Hall of Fame jockey and three-time Travers winner John Velazquez for the first time. Look for Velazquez to hustle Napoleon Solo out of the starting gate and vie with Leading Change to his inside and possibly Baby Vino drawn farther out for the early lead.

Bet Napoleon Solo in the Travers Stakes

Susie Raisher/NYRA

4. The Puma (8-1)

Jockey: Javier Castellano

Trainer: Gustavo Delgado

Owners: OGMA Investments, JR Ranch, High Step Racing, TCC Stables, and YNG Stables

Career record: 5 starts – 1 win – 2 seconds – 1 third

Career earnings: $492,280

Top Equibase Speed Figure: 97

Pedigree: Essential Quality – Eve of War, by Declaration of War

Color: Chestnut

Running style: Stalker

Analysis: He was a fast-rising Kentucky Derby contender earlier in 2026 who ended up missing the race due to a minor injury. Now, The Puma is flying under the radar somewhat leading into Saturday’s Travers, as he enters off of a solid-but-unspectacular comeback race in the Haskell Stakes July 18 at Monmouth Park, where he bobbled at the start and didn’t muster much of a stretch rally, ending up fourth and 4 ¼ lengths behind winner Baby Vino. That was The Puma’s first start since he finished runner-up by a nose in the March 28 Curlin Florida Derby Presented by Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm at Xalapa, and he should be fitter for the Travers. He’ll need to be back to his best, of course, in order to have a chance at pulling the upset, and it’s encouraging that Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano gets back in the saddle after a one-race absence. Castellano rode The Puma in both the Florida Derby and his win in the ESMARK Tampa Bay Derby back in March and is the all-time leading jockey in Travers victories with seven. Look for The Puma to rate in midpack through the backstretch and attempt to get first run on the early leaders on the far turn. Executing that type of trip can help him fill out the trifecta Saturday, or possibly do more.

Bet The Puma in the Travers Stakes

Skip Dickstein/BloodHorse

5. Renegade (3-1)

Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Owners: Robert Low, Lawana Low, and Repole Stable

Career record: 8 starts – 3 wins – 3 seconds – 2 thirds

Career earnings: $2,506,500

Top Equibase Speed Figure: 107

Pedigree: Into Mischief – Spice Is Nice, by Curlin

Color: Bay

Running style: Closer

Analysis: After an oh-so-close second to Golden Tempo by a neck in the Kentucky Derby and then a somewhat puzzling third-place finish to that foe by 5 ¼ lengths in the Belmont Stakes, Renegade regained his best form with a gutsy, rallying half-length score over Commandment in the 1 1/8-mile Jim Dandy Stakes Aug. 1 on this track. He raced as far back as 11 lengths off the early pace in the Jim Dandy but commenced a rally with Commandment to get past Silent Tactic (who finished third) in midstretch, and then outfinished his rival in the final strides. He’ll now get a third shot at Golden Tempo and shapes up as the main rival to the dual classic winner. In order to turn the tables, Renegade will need to be expertly handled by a new jockey. Tyler Gaffalione will substitute for Renegade’s regular rider, Irad Ortiz Jr., Saturday while Ortiz continues his recovery from a foot injury, and he’ll attempt to settle Renegade off the early pace, but not too far back, and in the general vicinity of Golden Tempo. Look for Renegade to muster his usual off-the-pace rally, and if it’s timed just right, this colt bred for stamina can give Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher his fourth Travers victory.

Bet Renegade in the Travers Stakes

Susie Raisher/NYRA

6. Ocelli (20-1)

Jockey: Edgard Zayas

Trainer: Whit Beckman

Owners: Ashley Durr, Anthony Tate, Ribble Farms, Hoolie Racing Stable, and Kamp Racing Stables

Career record: 10 starts – 0 firsts – 2 seconds – 4 thirds

Career earnings: $842,300

Top Equibase Speed Figure: 99

Pedigree: Connect – Zalia, by Scat Daddy

Color: Bay

Running style: Closer

Analysis: The “plucky underdog” narrative that formed around Ocelli back in late spring – when he came a length short of earning his first career win in the Kentucky Derby at 70.50-1 odds – has faded somewhat in subsequent weeks after he finished a nonthreatening fourth in the Preakness Stakes, second after leading late in the Ohio Derby, and then last of seven and defeated by 32 lengths in the Haskell Stakes in mid-July. Suffice to say, he’ll need a staggering reversal of form to even secure third or fourth against this Travers field, and while the pace scenario for Saturday’s race should benefit his come-from-behind style, fellow closers Renegade and Golden Tempo are simply faster and more accomplished. The one caveat to his Haskell flop is that it occurred on a sloppy track, the first one Ocelli ever ran on. Five days out, the forecast in Saratoga Springs calls for sunny skies, so that should slightly boost his chances at securing his first career win in the Travers, which remain remote. Jockey Edgard Zayas will ride Ocelli for the first time as Tyler Gaffalione, aboard for his past four starts beginning with the Kentucky Derby, has accepted the assignment on Renegade.

Bet Ocelli in the Travers Stakes

Susie Raisher/NYRA

7. Sea Strike (5-1)

Jockey: Flavien Prat

Trainer: Chad Brown

Owner: Flanagan Racing

Career record: 3 starts – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Career earnings: $131,300

Top Equibase Speed Figure: 109

Pedigree: Midshipman – Meetmeonline, by Line of David

Color: Chestnut

Running style: Stalker

Analysis: This colt is rated at morning-line odds of 5-1 in the Travers as he enters the race off of a blowout 8 ¼-length win in the 1 1/8-mile Curlin Stakes on this track Aug. 2. In the Curlin, Sea Strike assumed command nearing the quarter pole and spurted clear of the field in the stretch, leaving highly regarded odds-on favorite Chief Wallabee spinning his hooves in second. As impressive as his win in the Curlin win is, it came in Sea Strike’s first career start in a route race; he had previously won and finished a distant fifth in sprint races at Aqueduct and Saratoga. Another red flag is his pedigree, which suggests he fits best racing a mile or possibly 1 1/16 miles rather than 1 ¼ miles. Jockey Flavien Prat, who rode Sea Strike in his three prior starts, keeps the mount, and that’s a plus. But he can’t afford to bounce off of his flashy win in the Curlin Saturday; on the contrary, he’ll need to build off of it in order to upset the likes of Golden Tempo, Renegade, and Napoleon Solo. Based on overall body of work, Sea Strike is an underlay at 5-1 compared with middle-priced contenders The Puma and arguably even Baby Vino.

Bet Sea Strike in the Travers Stakes

Ryan Denver/EQUI-PHOTO

8. Baby Vino (10-1)

Jockey: Paco Lopez

Trainer: Lindsay Schultz

Owners: Delta Squad Racing, Prince Faisal bin Khaled bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, and Cosmo Stables

Career record: 7 starts – 3 wins – 2 seconds – 1 third

Career earnings: $794,916

Top Equibase Speed Figure: 102

Pedigree: Vino Rosso – Discreetly Grand, by Discreetly Mine

Color: Bay

Running style: Stalker

Analysis: After posting a 28-1 upset over Napoleon Solo in the Haskell Stakes July 18, the connections of this late-blooming 3-year-old confidently try deeper waters Saturday. Baby Vino made four starts with two seconds and one third from mid-December 2025 to the end of April without a win, but the lightbulb came on May 1 at Oaklawn Park when he overcame a rough trip to draw clear by 2 ¾ lengths in a 1 1/16-mile maiden race. The son of Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Vino Rosso then unleashed a visually impressive performance in the 1 1/16-mile Pegasus Stakes in June at Monmouth Park, where he romped by 10 ¾ lengths. That set up his Haskell shocker at Monmouth, where he engaged Preakness Stakes winner Napoleon Solo in a stretch duel and outfinished that rival in the late stages to win the 1 1/8-mile test. Baby Vino was ridden by Paco Lopez in the Pegasus Stakes, but Lopez kept his mount on Napoleon Solo in the Haskell. Saturday, John Velazquez replaces Lopez on the Preakness winner, and Lopez will pair once again with Baby Vino, a horse he figures to be aggressive with out of the starting gate. Baby Vino stalked the pace in his three recent breakthrough races before pouncing, but he could be positioned more prominently early in the Travers.

Bet Baby Vino in the Travers Stakes

Skip Dickstein/BloodHorse

9. Golden Tempo (5-2)

Jockey: Jose Ortiz

Trainer: Cherie DeVaux

Owners: Phipps Stable and St. Elias Stable

Career record: 6 starts – 4 wins – 0 seconds – 2 thirds

Career earnings: $4,633,000

Top Equibase Speed Figure: 101

Pedigree: Curlin – Carrumba, by Bernardini

Color: Bay

Running style: Closer

Analysis: Following Golden Tempo’s last-to-first, thrilling 23-1 win in the Kentucky Derby, there was still plenty of skepticism about the colt’s status as leader of the 3-year-old male division based on the way the fast pace helped set up his rally and the precision jockey Jose Ortiz had to employ in order to seal the deal. Those doubts persisted up until Belmont Stakes day June 6 at Saratoga and helped make Golden Tempo the fourth betting choice (and nearly fifth) among nine contenders at 6-1 odds. In the Belmont, Golden Tempo again settled in last but had to deal with a far slower pace to close into … and it didn’t matter. His 1 ¼-length triumph over Commandment, with Renegade a tiring third, cemented this sturdy colt’s place atop the sophomore male division and validated trainer Cherie DeVaux’s decision to skip the Preakness Stakes and train up to the Belmont. DeVaux is following the same strategy now, as Golden Tempo bypassed the Jim Dandy Stakes and should be well-rested for his return. He projects to be the post-time Travers favorite with Saratoga meet leader Jose Ortiz in the saddle. As with any closer, Golden Tempo will need some racing luck in order to time his rally right and navigate past tired horses in the stretch. He’s the leading win candidate in this prestigious race, and an absolute must-use in all exacta and trifecta wagers.

Bet Golden Tempo in the Travers Stakes

Fasig-Tipton photo

10. Silent Tactic (10-1)

Jockey: Luis Saez

Trainer: Mark Casse

Owners: John Oxley and Victoriam Farm

Career record: 7 starts – 2 wins – 4 seconds – 1 third

Career earnings: $1,111,922

Top Equibase Speed Figure: 103

Pedigree: Tacitus – Magical Sign, by Gun Runner

Color: Bay

Running style: Stalker/closer

Analysis: Looking for a solid longshot candidate in the Travers? This colt fits the bill as he makes his second start after ending a layoff of just over four months with a good third in the Jim Dandy Stakes Aug. 1 at Saratoga. Silent Tactic came into that 1 1/8-mile race after missing time — and all of the Triple Crown races — due to injury, but he showed why he was so highly regarded at Oaklawn Park during the spring by dueling for the pace and hanging on until midstretch before yielding to Renegade and runner-up Commandment, finishing 2 ½ lengths behind the winner and 12 lengths clear of fourth-place Chip Honcho. After using a closing style to rack up a win and three seconds in Oaklawn’s four-race series of Kentucky Derby preps, Silent Tactic was more forwardly placed in the Jim Dandy under first-time rider Luis Saez. That might have been a strategy suited only to the Jim Dandy, however, which only had five starters and a lone speed horse in Chip Honcho. Look for two-time Travers winner Saez to be more patient aboard Silent Tactic in his second time in the saddle. This colt is bred to handle 1 ¼ miles and, as noted, should improve in his second start off the layoff. Overall, he rates a cut below Golden Tempo and Renegade at this point in their respective careers, but is certainly capable of filling out the exacta and/or trifecta with a top effort.

Bet Silent Tactic in the Travers Stakes