Renegade’s Jim Dandy Win Sets Stage for Travers Rematch With Golden Tempo

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — Renegade’s rallying victory in Saturday’s Jim Dandy Stakes has set up another showdown with dual-classic winner Golden Tempo in the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 29.

Renegade, who finished a head behind Golden Tempo in the Kentucky Derby, will meet the dual-classic winner for the third time this season after producing a strong late run to capture the Jim Dandy by a half-length under Irad Ortiz Jr.

After settling about a dozen lengths off the pace down the backstretch, Renegade swept past Commandment in deep stretch to rebound from a third-place finish in the Belmont Stakes, where he finished 5 1/4 lengths behind Golden Tempo and four lengths behind Commandment.

Trainer Todd Pletcher said the eight-week break between the Belmont and Jim Dandy proved beneficial, and early signs indicate Renegade has come out of the race in good order despite having only four weeks until the Travers.

“I think it’s very similar, the difference is Fierceness we did not run in the Belmont. I knew he was not going to be ready in five weeks, we needed all that time for the Jim Dandy,” said Pletcher, comparing Renegade’s schedule to that of Fierceness, who won both the Jim Dandy and Travers in 2024 after a 12-week layoff following the Kentucky Derby.

“We’ll see as we go back to the track, my initial impression is that [Renegade’s] taken the race really well,” Pletcher said. “Last night, we were back here after the races and he was bright, alert, at the front of his stall. He ate well last night, his energy level was good this morning. If we can have a month leading up to the Travers like he had the last month … it seems like sometimes once these horses get in form they can stay in form for the month.”

Fierceness answered questions about the short turnaround by earning a career-best 111 Beyer Speed Figure in the Travers.

Pletcher collected his ninth Jim Dandy victory Saturday. Since 2005, nine of the last 21 Jim Dandy winners have also won the Travers, including Pletcher trainees Flower Alley (2005), Stay Thirsty (2011), and Fierceness (2024). Stay Thirsty and Fierceness raced for Mike Repole, who is also co-owner of Renegade.

Asked about another meeting with Golden Tempo, Pletcher said, “we got to do a little bit better than we did in the Derby.”

Golden Tempo missed the Jim Dandy because of illness but returned to the work tab Sunday at Saratoga. Working in company with 3-year-old Stirring Words, Golden Tempo covered four furlongs in 47.71 seconds while on the inside under Jose Ortiz. He galloped out five furlongs in 1:00.75 and six furlongs in 1:14.28.

“He’s doing great, I’m really, really pleased with him,” trainer Cherie DeVaux said.

DeVaux said another meeting with Renegade will naturally draw attention but remains focused on Golden Tempo’s preparation.

“Renegade ran really well yesterday, but I’m really confident in how Golden Tempo is training right now,” DeVaux said. “We got a couple more weeks, but I’m really pleased with him and he’s proven at the distance.”

Commandment, runner-up in both the Belmont Stakes and Jim Dandy, is being considered for either the Travers or the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby on Sept. 19 at Parx Racing.

Trainer Brad Cox said he was encouraged by Commandment’s first start wearing blinkers.

“I thought it was a really good race,” Cox said. “Flavien [Prat] kept him near Silent Tactic to keep him engaged and then Flavien said he didn’t feel the pressure or see the horse coming down the outside. Once he did, he re-engaged.”

Cox also continues to evaluate Leading Change, who captured the Indiana Derby in just his second career start. The Wathnan Racing-owned colt worked a half-mile in 48 seconds Saturday at Churchill Downs.

“He’s light on seasoning, that’s it,” Cox said. “We asked a lot of him last time to run two turns in the second start of his career against seasoned 3-year-olds, and he ran I thought a really good race. His numbers are really good, so it’s just about doing what’s right.”

Trainer Mark Casse said Silent Tactic exited the Jim Dandy in good shape after finishing third in his first start in four months. His previous race came when he finished second to Renegade in the Arkansas Derby.

“I was so proud of him yesterday, four months, lots of issues. No way he could have been at his very best, maybe 90 percent,” Casse said. “He looked great this morning. If we can get a good [month], keep him happy, he’s going to be tough in the Travers. He should improve.”

Haskell Stakes winner Baby Vino returned to training Saturday at Monmouth Park with a half-mile work in 49.40 seconds. Trainer Lindsay Schultz said Sunday that the Travers “is the plan right now” and that the colt is expected to ship to Saratoga in time for a workout over the track.

Preakness Stakes winner Napoleon Solo, who finished a half-length behind Baby Vino in the Haskell, is at Saratoga and is expected to resume training this week. His connections are deciding between the Travers and the Pennsylvania Derby.

Haskell fourth-place finisher The Puma is also at Saratoga and is expected to record his first workout back this weekend.

Also under consideration for the Travers are Emerging Market, winner of the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby who most recently finished second in an allowance race, and Ocelli, who remains a maiden after 10 starts but finished third in the Kentucky Derby and second in the Ohio Derby.