There are several paths a 3-year-old can follow to wind up in the Travers Stakes (G1).
A quick check of the record books shows one of the reasons why Kentucky Derby (G1) runner-up Renegade will prep for the Midsummer Derby in the $500,000 Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) Aug. 1 at Saratoga Race Course.
"I've won the Travers three times," trainer Todd Pletcher said, "and each time it was with a horse who won the Jim Dandy."
Aside from Pletcher's personal association with the Jim Dandy, the 1 1/8-mile test for 3-year-olds has also been a remarkable barometer for success in the Travers.
In four of the last five years, the Jim Dandy winner has served up an encore victory four weeks later in the Travers—including the Pletcher-trained Fierceness in 2024.
"We look at it as a race we'd love to win and hopefully it will move him forward for the Travers," Pletcher said.
As beneficial as the Jim Dandy has been, Saturday's edition once again attracted a small but strong field. Only five horses were entered, but they include the Arkansas Derby (G1) winner and Kentucky Derby runner-up, the second and third finishers in the Belmont Stakes (G1), the third-place finisher in the Preakness Stakes (G1), and the colt who was second in the Arkansas Derby.
There's also a maiden, but since he has $805,000 less in earnings than all-time maiden money leader Ocelli, the less said about him for now, the better.
The prime matchup features Commandment and Renegade, who were second and third, respectively, last time out in the June 6 Belmont at the Spa.
Renegade, a son of Into Mischief , was the 8-5 favorite in the final leg of the Triple Crown off a neck loss in the Run for the Roses. But he failed to flash the same strong closing kick and weakened in the final furlong to finish third by 5 1/4 lengths.
Stabled at Saratoga since then, Robert and Lawana Low and Repole Stable's Renegade has trained in a manner that has sparked confidence in his Hall of Fame trainer.
"It's not an easy race by any means, but he's ready to go and coming up to this well. I feel the time since the Belmont has done him well," Pletcher said, "Like a lot of horses who go through the Triple Crown prep series and the Derby, it can be taxing on them. I thought he was rounding back into form going into the Belmont but, in retrospect, he might have benefited from an extra week or two. With the extra time now, it seems like he's back to his best."
Given that the tiny field lacks a speedster, the pace could be problematic for Renegade, who rallied from 16th in the Kentucky Derby and seventh in the Belmont, both at a longer 1 1/4-mile distance.
"The pace scenario concerns me," Pletcher said. "On paper, there's not a lot of speed. There's probably only one horse with real speed. That's always an advantage for that horse, but we have to let Renegade run his race and hopefully he'll be coming at the end."
That lack of early speed has trainer Brad Cox glad he added blinkers for Commandment's recent works, and the son of Into Mischief will race with them for the first time Saturday. The Wathnan Racing 3-year-old usually runs in midpack early on but, with the blinkers, Cox would have no problem if Commandment breaks quickly under Flavien Prat and races near or on the lead.
"Without a doubt, there's some concern about the pace," Cox said. "But there's nothing we can really do about it. The field is the field. When I looked at the field, I was glad I put blinkers on because there does not appear to be a lot of pace. If he breaks well and puts himself there, I can see him on the lead."
The Belmont, when he finished 1 1/4 lengths behind dual classic winner Golden Tempo, was an improved showing for Commandment, who reeled off three straight stakes wins at Gulfstream Park, including the Florida Derby (G1), before finishing seventh in the Kentucky Derby.
"He's trained really well and we've pointed for this race since the Belmont. The blinkers have made him a little more consistent in his works, week to week, after a big run in the Belmont," Cox said. "He came up a little short there, but maybe the blinkers will get him a little more involved and he'll carry himself through the turns and that will be enough to get him there."
The most likely pacesetter is Leland Ackerley Racing, James Sherwood, Jode Shupe, and John Cilia's Chip Honcho, who was third in the Preakness for trainer Steve Asmussen and set the pace earlier this year when second in the Risen Star Stakes (G2).
Winner of the Ohio Derby (G3) in his previous start, the son of Connect will break from the rail with jockey Jose Ortiz.
John C. Oxley's Silent Tactic will be making his first start since he was second by 4 lengths to Renegade in the March 28 Arkansas Derby.
Never worse than second in six starts for trainer Mark Casse, the grade 3-winning son of Tacitus missed the Triple Crown because of hoof issues.
The aforementioned maiden is Asked and Answered, who was claimed for $20,000 and has a pair of seconds in six starts.
Saratoga Race Course, Saturday, August 1, 2026, Race 10Entries: Jim Dandy S. Presented by Mohegan Sun (G2)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Chip Honcho (KY) Jose L. Ortiz 122 Steven M. Asmussen 3/1 2 2Asked and Answered (KY) Jaime Rodriguez 120 Antonio Arriaga 30/1 3 3Renegade (KY) Irad Ortiz, Jr. 124 Todd A. Pletcher 7/5 4 4Silent Tactic (KY) Luis Saez 122 Mark E. Casse 6/1 5 5Commandment (KY) Flavien Prat 124 Brad H. Cox 6/5
