2026 Travers Stakes Tips - Odds and tips for Saturday's feature at Saratoga

Jon Vine

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Last updated: Wed 26 Aug 2026 08:30

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Odds and betting predictions for the 2026 Travers Stakes
This Group One takes place at Saratoga on Saturday 29th August
Napoleon Solo is our each-way selection at 12/1

Saratoga racecourse. (Getty)

Five Grade One races will take place at Saratoga on Saturday night. We're going to focus on the Travers Stakes, a fantastic ten-furlong contest and horses who impress on Saturday will jump to the head of the betting for the 2026 Breeders' Cup Classic.

Here's our free guide to the 2026 Travers Stakes, including our top US Racing tips.

2026 Travers Stakes Odds

Name	Odds
Golden Tempo	5/2
Renegade	10/3
Sea Strike	9/2
The Puma	8/1
Leading Change	10/1
Bar	12/1

2026 Travers Stakes Runners

Golden Tempo caused a huge upset when winning the Kentucky Derby as one of the outsiders in the field. Cherie DeVaux's star proved that victory was no fluke when beating the same rivals in the Belmont Stakes, and Jose Ortiz's mount tops the betting for Saturday's feature.

Renegade placed behind Golden Tempo in both the Derby and the Belmont, before returning to winning ways in the Jim Dandy. Derby third Ocelli hasn't been able to replicate that form since, and was last seen finishing last of the seven in the Haskell Stakes at Monmouth.

Baby Vino returned an SP of 28/1 when taking out the Haskell, recording his third win on the bounce. Preakness Stakes winner Napoleon Solo was back in second that day. The Puma missed all three of the Classics through injury, but ran on well from the rear to finish fourth at Monmouth on his belated return to action.

Chad Brown and Flavien Prat team up with Sea Strike, who steps into Grade One company after thrashing Derby and Belmont fourth Chief Wallabee in the Curlin Stakes at Saratoga. Mark Casse runs Grade Three winner Silent Tactic, who finished third behind Renegade in the Jim Dandy Stakes earlier this month.

Brad Cox is represented by unbeaten Wathnan Racing-owned colt Leading Change. Chad Brown's second-string is Belmont Stakes fifth Emerging Market, and he rounds off the betting for Saturday's main event.

2026 Travers Stakes Tips

This is a fantastic renewal of the Travers Stakes. Pretty much all of the continent's highest-rated three-year-olds are running, and the winner will almost certainly jump to the head of the Breeders' Cup Classic market.

Golden Tempo has won two legs of the Triple Crown, and deserves his position at the head of the betting. Renegade looked back to his best in the Jim Dandy Stakes, and he'll challenge the favourite again. Both, however, are closers and like a rapid pace to aim at, and I'm not sure they'll get that in Saturday's feature.

napoleon solo preakness — Napoleon Solo wins the Preakness Stakes. (Getty)

The only guaranteed front-runner in the field is NAPOLEON SOLO (12/1). Chad Summers' star was one of the top juveniles in the country last season, but could only finish fifth on his first two three-year-old starts in the Fountain Of Youth and Wood Memorial.

Napoleon Solo bounced back to winning ways in the Preakness Stakes, where he controlled the race from the front and comfortably held his rivals at arm's length. Paco Lopez then attempted similar tactics on a sloppy track in the Haskell, only to get outmuscled in the closing stages by Baby Vino, who completed a hat-trick at trainer Lindsay Schultz's local track.

Lopez didn't enjoy his finest hour in the Haskell. The leader set some steady fractions early on, and failed to get to the rail, despite leading for almost the entire contest. Baby Vino saved ground the whole way, and snuck up on Napoleon Solo's inside upon entering the final bend. Lopez then seemed intent on trying to shut the door on his rival, but Baby Vino had grabbed the ideal track position going into the bend, and try as he might, Napoleon Solo could never wrestle back the advantage.

It'll be all change on Saturday. Paco Lopez rides Baby Vino, who has been drawn out wide in stall eight. Napoleon Solo, meanwhile, will be partnered by one of the best pace riders ever in John Velazquez, and he'll be delighted with that low draw in stall three.

There's a strong possibility that Velazquez will get an uncontested lead this weekend, which would allow him to stack the field up behind Napoleon Solo, before utilising his mount's turn of foot. Summers' stable star is a two-time Grade One winner, and has more than enough class to win a race like the Travers. Odds of 12/1 vastly understate his winning chances.

Verdict

2026 Travers Stakes

Napoleon Solo is our each-way selection in the 2026 Travers Stakes.

Napoleon Solo E/W

2026 Travers Stakes Tips

@12/1 - 5 Units

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