Published on: June 7, 2026
3-Year-Old Division Watch: Week 1
What’s Next for Golden Tempo, Renegade, and Napoleon Solo?
The 2026 Triple Crown is over, but the summer war has just begun. Golden Tempo’s eyes are on Saratoga, Napoleon Solo has a new multi-million dollar owner, and Renegade is hunting for revenge. Here is the road to the Breeders’ Cup.
The 2026 Triple Crown series delivered pure drama. Three distinct races produced three entirely different stories, leaving racing fans asking: What’s next for Golden Tempo? Golden Tempo captured the Kentucky Derby and a historic Saratoga-based Belmont Stakes. Napoleon Solo flashed brilliant tactical speed to take the Preakness at Laurel Park. Renegade played the heartbreak kid, finishing second in the Derby and third in the Belmont as the beaten favorite both times. Now the classic season is over and the campaign for 3-Year-Old Champion — and potentially Horse of the Year — moves to the summer circuits. This is the first installment of the 3-Year-Old Division Watch, a weekly series following the division from now through the Breeders’ Cup Classic on October 31 at Keeneland.
Table of Contents
What’s Next for Golden Tempo: Travers or Jim Dandy First?
Golden Tempo emerged from his Belmont victory in spectacular order. Despite a sharp stumble at the break that dropped him to dead last in a nine-horse field, his powerful closing kick carried him clear in the stretch. That kind of performance leaves connections holding options rather than obligations. Trainer Cherie DeVaux confirmed immediately after the race that Golden Tempo’s primary summer target is the Travers Stakes on August 29 at Saratoga — $1.25 million, Grade 1, the Mid-Summer Derby. A win there would practically lock up the divisional championship.
What’s next for Golden Tempo specifically comes down to one question DeVaux hasn’t answered: whether he runs in the Jim Dandy Stakes (Grade 2, $500,000, August 1) as a local prep first. The Jim Dandy is the traditional Travers launching pad — the exact route Sovereignty used in 2025 to complete the Jim Dandy-Travers double. DeVaux has said Golden Tempo will ship back to his home base at Keeneland to train, returning to Saratoga only when he races. The decision comes down to whether he needs a prep or whether DeVaux trusts his fitness to run straight into the Travers off the Belmont.
Miles’s Take — The Case for Skipping the Jim Dandy: DeVaux has made patient, deliberate scheduling decisions with this horse all year. Skipped the Preakness, gave him fresh spacing, and it paid off with two classic trophies. She is not a trainer who chases prep races just because the calendar puts them there. If Golden Tempo flashes his usual energy in his early works at Keeneland, pointing straight to the Travers is the smarter move. Adding a race adds risk. A horse that has already won the Derby and Belmont has nothing to prove on August 1. Watch his first few timed works back — his morning clockings will tell you more about DeVaux’s plans than any press release.
Looking past August, the ultimate goal is the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland on October 31 — $7 million, Golden Tempo’s home track. Sweeping the Derby, Belmont, Travers, and Classic would instantly close the Eclipse Award debate and cement a legitimate Horse of the Year campaign.
Napoleon Solo: Sold, Still Pointed to the Haskell
The biggest off-track story of the post-Belmont week involves the Preakness winner. Napoleon Solo was sold after the race — his original owner, New Jersey native Al Gold of Gold Square LLC, parted ways with the colt. The new ownership group is ESPOIR USA. Financial terms were not disclosed. Practically speaking, the barn door remains stable: Napoleon Solo stays with trainer Chad Summers, his summer targets don’t change, and connections plan to race him through his 4-year-old season before retiring him to Lane’s End Farm in Kentucky, where his sire Liam’s Map stands.
Summers was at Saratoga watching the Belmont while Napoleon Solo rested, keeping tabs on horses that might show up in the Haskell. The first of five planned works toward the Haskell Stakes (Grade 1, $1 million, July 18 at Monmouth Park) is set for June 11 at Belmont Park. Summers has deliberately given the horse a short break — the gap from Preakness to Haskell is more than two months, and he wants Napoleon Solo fresh rather than over-trained. “You know, all of a sudden you’re breezing, breezing, breezing, and you go over the top,” he told BloodHorse.
What the Haskell sets up: The Haskell at 1⅛ miles plays directly to Napoleon Solo’s strengths. Summers has said the colt is built to be an elite middle-distance horse — cutting back slightly from the 1 3/16-mile Preakness is the natural next step. Iron Honor, the Preakness runner-up trained by Chad Brown, is also pointing to Monmouth, setting up a potential Laurel Park rematch. The wildcard is Golden Tempo. If DeVaux uses the Haskell as an away-from-home prep instead of the Jim Dandy, July 18 becomes their first meeting since clashing at the Kentucky Derby. Watch the morning line when entries draw in early July.
The ownership sale adds a layer to the Haskell story. Al Gold grew up near the Jersey Shore, won the 2022 Haskell with Cyberknife, and the emotional pull of Monmouth was a primary driver of this target from day one. ESPOIR USA has honored that plan, but the motivation is now professional rather than personal. Summers has been clear about the goal: win the 3-Year-Old Champion title, and the Haskell is the first major step in that argument.
Renegade: Rebounding from Back-to-Back Heartbreaks
Renegade’s post-Belmont status is the most unsettled of the three. Todd Pletcher was frank after the race: the beaten favorite was “a little flat” and failed to deliver the explosive stretch punch that nearly won him the Derby. Unlike his compromised rail trip at Churchill Downs, Renegade had a clean journey at Saratoga. He broke sharply, settled into position, got clear when he wanted, and simply didn’t produce the same sustained run. Golden Tempo ran past him and that was that.
No next start has been confirmed. Pletcher indicated the horse needs time to regroup before a direction is committed. The Haskell at 1⅛ miles is a possible option, but it means shipping into Napoleon Solo’s home turf at Monmouth — and the distance cutback doesn’t obviously favor a horse who was beaten at 1¼ miles. The more likely route is a targeted campaign aimed directly at the Travers on August 29, where the distance, track, and mid-summer pace dynamics give Renegade a cleaner shot at settling the argument with Golden Tempo.
Miles’s Take — Renegade’s Path Forward: Two consecutive Triple Crown runner-up finishes as the heavy favorite demands answers, not excuses. Pletcher knows that better than anyone. The Derby was chaotic; the Belmont was fair. At the Travers, on a track Renegade knows, at a distance where the pace dynamics will be different, he gets a genuine test. Pletcher has won every kind of big race and he knows exactly how to peak a horse for late August. I would be surprised if Renegade doesn’t line up at Saratoga on August 29 — and more surprised if he doesn’t arrive with something serious to say.
The Summer and Fall Racing Calendar
| Date | Race | Track | Distance | Purse | Who’s Pointing There |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 18 | Haskell Stakes (G1) | Monmouth Park | 1⅛ miles | $1 million | Napoleon Solo (confirmed); Iron Honor (likely); Golden Tempo (wildcard) |
| August 1 | Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) | Saratoga | 1⅛ miles | $500,000 | Golden Tempo (possible prep); others TBD |
| August 8 | Whitney Stakes (G1) | Saratoga | 1⅛ miles | $1 million | Older horses — 3-year-olds rarely target this |
| August 29 | Travers Stakes (G1) | Saratoga | 1¼ miles | $1.25 million | Golden Tempo (confirmed); Renegade (likely); others TBD |
| October 31 | Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) | Keeneland | 1¼ miles | $7 million | Golden Tempo (confirmed); Renegade (likely); Napoleon Solo (possible) |
The Haskell Stakes: First Major Post-Triple Crown Showdown
The Haskell is the first true crossroads on the summer calendar, and it is exactly six weeks away. With Napoleon Solo confirmed and Iron Honor highly likely, the racing world is waiting on one central question: will Golden Tempo show up?
Napoleon Solo is a classic front-running presser who won the Preakness by seizing the lead and daring closers to catch him. Golden Tempo is the deepest closer in the division. If both champions square off at Monmouth on July 18, the pace scenario writes itself: Napoleon Solo on the engine, Golden Tempo trailing the field waiting for José Ortiz to find a seam. On talent alone, you cannot comfortably dismiss either horse.
Haskell handicapping angle: Monmouth Park’s dirt surface historically rewards speed and horses that control the pace or track just off the flank of the leader. Deep closers needing a pace collapse face a shorter stretch run here than at Saratoga or Churchill. Napoleon Solo’s running style is built for this track. If Golden Tempo bypasses the Haskell, this is Napoleon Solo’s race to lose. If Golden Tempo enters, the tactical pressure on both horses shifts — which could create an ideal setup for a well-placed stalking horse that nobody is talking about yet. Watch the morning line shifts when entries draw in early July.
The Eclipse Award Picture
Three weeks ago, the 3-Year-Old Champion picture was genuinely open. Now it isn’t. Golden Tempo has won two of the three Triple Crown races and beaten Renegade twice in direct competition. Golden Tempo now controls the Eclipse Award race, but the Travers and Breeders’ Cup Classic remain major opportunities for rivals to close the gap — and in horse racing, that gap can close faster than anyone expects.
Napoleon Solo holds a puncher’s chance. He is a classic winner, commanded significant money in the bloodstock market, and is pointed toward a rigorous summer and fall campaign. But winning a Preakness field that didn’t include the Derby winner is a lighter credential than holding two classic trophies. The Haskell is his shot to move from wildcard into a legitimate title threat — a win at Monmouth over a strong field changes the narrative heading into August.
Renegade’s path to the Eclipse Award runs entirely through the Travers. Defeating Golden Tempo in a direct, uncompromised head-to-head at Saratoga is the only outcome that rewires the championship conversation. Pletcher has secured plenty of Eclipse hardware throughout his career. He knows exactly what the horse needs to do and when.
Miles’s Predictions for the Summer
Based on what each trainer has said, how each horse ran, and what the calendar offers — here is where I think the division goes from here.
Miles’s Take — Summer Predictions: Golden Tempo skips the Haskell and points straight to the Travers. DeVaux doesn’t need a prep race at Monmouth — she needs a peak performance at Saratoga on August 29, and adding a race adds risk for no meaningful reward. Napoleon Solo wins the Haskell. The distance suits him, Monmouth suits him, and without Golden Tempo he’s the best horse in that field. Renegade shows up at the Travers and runs his best race of the year — Pletcher will have him pointed correctly and the pace dynamics at Saratoga will give him a cleaner look than either classic offered. The Travers decides the division. Golden Tempo wins it, but it won’t be easy. Then the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland — Golden Tempo’s home track — closes the Horse of the Year argument. That is how I see the next five months playing out. I could be wrong on any individual piece. I am confident in the overall arc.
Key Takeaways: 3-Year-Old Division Watch — Week 1
- Golden Tempo — Travers Stakes (August 29) is the primary target; Jim Dandy (August 1) is a possible prep; returns to Keeneland to train before shipping for summer starts; Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland (October 31) is the fall destination
- Napoleon Solo — sold to ESPOIR USA, stays with Chad Summers; Haskell Stakes (July 18, Monmouth) confirmed; first major work set for June 11; plans to race through 4-year-old season, then retire to Lane’s End Farm
- Renegade — no confirmed next start; Pletcher says he was “a little flat” at the Belmont; Travers Stakes is the most logical summer destination; needs a Grade 1 win over Golden Tempo to re-enter the Eclipse conversation
- The Haskell (July 18) — Napoleon Solo vs. Iron Honor confirmed; Golden Tempo is the wildcard; Monmouth favors speed, which suits Napoleon Solo’s running style
- The Travers (August 29) — the defining race of the summer; Golden Tempo confirmed, Renegade likely; this is where the Eclipse Award argument gets settled
- The Breeders’ Cup Classic (October 31, Keeneland) — Golden Tempo’s home track; $7 million purse; the fall destination for the entire division
What I’m Watching This Week
- Golden Tempo — first work back at Keeneland, expected around June 14–16; DeVaux’s decision on the Jim Dandy starts with how he moves in that first breeze
- Napoleon Solo — June 11 work at Belmont Park; Summers has five works planned before the Haskell; how sharp he looks in that first breeze sets the tone for his summer
- Renegade — any public comment from Pletcher on a next target; no timeline exists yet and the first word out of his barn is the signal everyone is waiting for
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Golden Tempo’s next race after the Belmont Stakes?
Trainer Cherie DeVaux confirmed the Travers Stakes (August 29 at Saratoga, Grade 1, $1.25 million) as the primary summer target. The Jim Dandy Stakes (August 1) is a possible prep race. Golden Tempo will train at his home base at Keeneland before shipping to Saratoga. The Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland (October 31) is the confirmed fall destination.
What is Napoleon Solo’s next race after the Preakness?
Napoleon Solo is pointed to the Haskell Stakes (July 18 at Monmouth Park, Grade 1, $1 million, 1⅛ miles). He was sold after the Preakness to ESPOIR USA but remains with trainer Chad Summers. The first of five planned works toward the Haskell is set for June 11 at Belmont Park. Connections plan to race him through his 4-year-old season before retirement to Lane’s End Farm in Kentucky.
What is Renegade’s next race after the Belmont?
No next start has been confirmed. Todd Pletcher described Renegade as “a little flat” after the Belmont and indicated the horse needs time before a direction is committed. The Travers Stakes (August 29 at Saratoga) is the most likely target. The Haskell is an outside option but has not been mentioned by Pletcher.
Will Golden Tempo and Napoleon Solo meet again this summer?
Possibly. Napoleon Solo is confirmed for the Haskell (July 18 at Monmouth). Golden Tempo’s confirmed target is the Travers (August 29), but the Haskell could serve as a prep race. If both run the Haskell, it would be their first meeting since clashing at the Kentucky Derby — Napoleon Solo ran at Churchill Downs before shipping to Laurel for the Preakness. The Travers is the most likely venue for a summer showdown, with both horses currently pointed there.
What is the Travers Stakes?
The Travers Stakes is Saratoga’s most famous race — the Mid-Summer Derby — and the most significant 3-year-old test outside the Triple Crown. Run at 1¼ miles on dirt at Saratoga Race Course, it carries a $1.25 million purse and is the traditional battleground for Eclipse Award campaigns. The 2026 Travers runs August 29. In 2025, Sovereignty completed a Jim Dandy-Travers double at Saratoga.
Where is the 2026 Breeders’ Cup?
The 2026 Breeders’ Cup World Championships runs October 30-31 at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky — not Del Mar. The Breeders’ Cup Classic runs October 31 and carries a $7 million purse. Keeneland is Golden Tempo’s home training base, making the Classic a natural destination for the Derby-Belmont winner.
Who leads the 2026 Eclipse Award for 3-Year-Old Champion?
Golden Tempo leads clearly after winning the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes and defeating Renegade in both. Napoleon Solo won the Preakness but has not faced Golden Tempo directly. The Travers Stakes and Breeders’ Cup Classic are the remaining defining tests. Renegade needs a head-to-head win over Golden Tempo at the Travers to meaningfully reopen the argument.
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About Miles Henry
Racehorse Owner & Author | 30+ Years in Thoroughbred Racing
Miles Henry (legal name: William Bradley) is a professional horseman based in Folsom, Louisiana. He holds Louisiana Racing License #67012 and has spent over three decades managing Thoroughbreds at premier tracks including Fair Grounds, Delta Downs, and Evangeline Downs.
Expertise & Hands-On Experience: Beyond the track, Miles has decades of experience in specialized equine care, covering everything from hoof health and nutrition to training protocols for Quarter Horses, Friesians, and Paints. Every guide on Horse Racing Sense is rooted in this “boots-on-the-ground” perspective.
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