Golden Tempo Scratches from Jim Dandy; Renegade and Commandment Lead Saratoga Field

The road to the Travers Stakes has encountered a significant hurdle. Golden Tempo, the winner of the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes, has been scratched from the upcoming Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga Race Course. The champion colt developed a mild case of pneumonia in late June while training at Saratoga. Although trainer Cherie DeVaux caught the condition early, resulting in only a ten-day disruption to his schedule, the decision was made to skip the August 1 Grade II event.

Despite the absence of the Triple Crown winner, Saturday’s race remains a critical milestone for the three-year-old division. The event serves as a major prep for the Travers Stakes and acts as a key component in the “eastern” path toward the Breeders’ Cup. The five-horse field features a highly competitive rematch between top-tier contenders.

Churchill Downs Incorporated, the operator of the historic venue and the host of the Kentucky Derby where Golden Tempo claimed victory, continues to benefit from the high-profile narrative surrounding these three-year-old stars. The company’s shares are currently trading at $89.01, reflecting a slight decline of 0.23% in the current session.

The spotlight now shifts to the rivalry between Commandment and Renegade. This will mark the fourth time the two have faced off, renewing the competition seen earlier in the Triple Crown series. Commandment, who finished close to Golden Tempo at Belmont, enters as the Florida Derby winner. He will break from post five under Flavien Prat for trainer Brad Cox.

Renegade, the strong place runner in the Kentucky Derby and winner of the Arkansas Derby, will be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. for trainer Todd Pletcher. The field is rounded out by Silent Tactic, Chip Honcho, and Asked and Answered, creating a compact but talented group for the summer showcase.

What to watch

• Performance of Commandment and Renegade as they establish their standing for the Travers Stakes.
• Golden Tempo’s training progress as he targets a return for the remainder of the summer meet.

Source: original release