2026 Travers Stakes Finish Order: Full Results, Winners, Prize Money, Highlights
The 157th running of the Grade 1 DraftKings Travers Stakes goes Saturday, August 29, 2026, at Saratoga Race Course — and if you only make it to one day of racing this summer, this is the one.
The Travers is Saratoga's signature event: a $1.25 million showdown for three-year-olds run at 1¼ miles that draws the best horses of the season, the biggest crowds of the meet, and the atmosphere that makes Saratoga, Saratoga. If you haven't locked in housing for Travers week yet, you're cutting it close.
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Here's everything you need to know about the 2026 Travers Stakes.
What Is the Travers Stakes?
The Travers Stakes is the oldest stakes race in the United States run exclusively for three-year-old thoroughbreds. First run in 1864 and named for William R. Travers, founding president of the Saratoga Racing Association, it has anchored the Saratoga summer meet for more than 160 years.
Nicknamed the "Midsummer Derby," the Travers ranks third among American three-year-old races behind only the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes. It's the defining test of the summer: which horse from the Triple Crown season can go 1¼ miles against a fresh field in the August heat?
The answer is often not the one bettors expect. Saratoga has earned its nickname "The Graveyard of Favorites" for good reason — the Travers has produced some of the biggest upsets in racing history, including 100-1 shot Jim Dandy's shocking defeat of Triple Crown winner Gallant Fox in 1930.
2026 Travers Stakes: Race Day Details
Race: Grade 1 DraftKings Travers Stakes
Date: Saturday, August 29, 2026
Track: Saratoga Race Course, Saratoga Springs, NY
Distance: 1¼ miles (10 furlongs), dirt
Purse: $1,250,000
Eligibility: Three-year-olds
Weights: Colts & geldings, 126 lbs; fillies, 121 lbs
How to Watch the 2026 Travers Stakes?
Live coverage airs on the FOX Sports family of networks as part of the “Saratoga Saturday” broadcast.
Undercard and additional coverage runs on FS1/FS2 via NYRA’s Saratoga Live.
Television
FOX: The national broadcast carries the marquee Saratoga Saturday card, including the Travers, with in-depth build-up and analysis.
FS1 / FS2: NYRA's "Saratoga Live" show provides daily and undercard coverage throughout Travers week.
Live Streaming
FOX Sports app / website: Stream with your TV provider login.
Live TV services: YouTube TV, FuboTV, Hulu + Live TV, and Sling TV all carry FOX, FS1, and FS2 without cable.
2026 Travers Stakes: Post Time, Results, Winners, Prize Money
Saratoga, Race 1 Order Of Finish: Purse $115,000, Maiden Special Weight
1st, Club Reign, Purse: $63,250
Jockey: Edgard J. Zayas
Trainer: D. Whitworth Beckman
B: Gary Broad, Walmac Farm, LLC (KY)
2nd, Subjugation, Purse: $23,000
Jockey: Jose L. Ortiz
Trainer: Steven M. Asmussen
B: Charles Fipke (KY)
3rd, Beau Valor, Purse: $13,800
Jockey: John R. Velazquez
Trainer: George Weaver
B: Estate of Brereton C. Jones (KY)
Saratoga, Race 2 Order Of Finish: Purse $120,000, Allowance
1st, Dr. Kapur, Purse: $66,000
Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione
Trainer: Saffie A. Joseph, Jr.
B: Kenneth L. Ramsey & Sarah K. Ramsey (KY)
2nd, Anyway, Purse: $24,000
Jockey: Manuel Franco
Trainer: Linda Rice
B: Old Tavern Farm LLC (NY)
3rd, Sculcos Folly, Purse: $14,400
Jockey: Jose L. Ortiz
Trainer: Richard E. Dutrow, Jr.
B: Lannister Holdings LLC (NY)
Saratoga, Race 3 Order Of Finish: Purse $105,000, Allowance
1st, Grazie, Purse: $57,750
Jockey: Flavien Prat
Trainer: Todd A. Pletcher
B: Michael Slezak & Kaylee M. Platt (NY)
2nd, Central to Success, Purse: $21,000
Jockey: Katie Davis
Trainer: Robert E. Reid, Jr.
B: Cedar Meadow, Inc. (NY)
3rd, Liberty's Secret, Purse: $12,600
Jockey: Jose L. Ortiz
Trainer: Patrick J. Quick
B: Thummp's Racing Stable LLC (NY)
Saratoga, Race 4 Order Of Finish: Purse $120,000, Allowance Optional Claiming
1st, Print, Purse: $66,000
Jockey: Ricardo Santana, Jr.
Trainer: Robert Ribaudo
B: Marc Keller (KY)
2nd, Instability (IRE), Purse: $24,000
Jockey: Flavien Prat
Trainer: Chad C. Brown
B: Mr Bill Crager (IRE)
3rd, Alto Blues (FR), Purse: $14,400
Jockey: Manuel Franco
Trainer: Miguel Clement
B: Henri Devin (FR)
Saratoga, Race 5 Order Of Finish: Purse $105,000, Allowance
1st, Caroline St. Beat, Purse: $57,750
Jockey: Manuel Franco
Trainer: Miguel Clement
B: Lawrence Goichman (NY)
2nd, Sammy C Note, Purse: $21,000
Jockey: Jose L. Ortiz
Trainer: Michael Miceli
B: Big Daddy Racing Stable, LLC (NY)
3rd, Coach Ryan, Purse: $12,600
Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione
Trainer: Chad C. Brown
B: Madaket Stables LLC (NY)
Saratoga, Race 6 Order Of Finish: Purse $115,000, Maiden Special Weight
1st, Virabhadrasana, Purse: $63,250
Jockey: Ricardo Santana, Jr.
Trainer: Kinnon LaRose
B: Sovereign Farm (KY)
2nd, Psalm Beauty, Purse: $23,000
Jockey: Jose L. Ortiz
Trainer: Steven M. Asmussen
B: Elliot Slack (KY)
3rd, Foxiest, Purse: $13,800
Jockey: Manuel Franco
Trainer: Brad H. Cox
B: LNJ Foxwoods (KY)
Saratoga, Race 7 Order Of Finish: Purse $120,000, Allowance Optional Claiming
1st, Shelzawa (FR), Purse: $66,000
Jockey: Flavien Prat
Trainer: Chad C. Brown
B: Mme Marie-Laure Collet & Mr Teddy Poirier (FR)
2nd, Counterintuitive, Purse: $24,000
Jockey: Jose L. Ortiz
Trainer: Chad C. Brown
B: Dr. John R. Cummins (KY)
3rd, Paige Turner, Purse: $14,400
Jockey: John R. Velazquez
Trainer: Cherie DeVaux
B: TMSI, Bell Tower Thoroughbreds, Omar Aldabbagh, Frank Taylor, et al (KY)
Saratoga, Race 8 Order Of Finish: Purse $500,000, H. Allen Jerkens Memorial S. (G1)
1st, Englishman, Purse: $275,000
Jockey: Jose L. Ortiz
Trainer: Cherie DeVaux
B: Fifth Avenue Bloodstock (KY)
2nd, Deep Flame, Purse: $100,000
Jockey: Flavien Prat
Trainer: Brad H. Cox
B: Juddmonte (KY)
3rd, Local Knowledge, Purse: $60,000
Jockey: John R. Velazquez
Trainer: Todd A. Pletcher
B: Stoneriggs Farm (KY)
Saratoga, Race 9 Order Of Finish: Purse $500,000, Personal Ensign S. (G1)
1st, Fully Subscribed, Purse: $275,000
Jockey: Flavien Prat
Trainer: Chad C. Brown
B: Payson Stud Inc (KY)
2nd, Scottish Lassie, Purse: $100,000
Jockey: Jose L. Ortiz
Trainer: Jorge R. Abreu
B: Winchester Farm (KY)
3rd, Nerazurri, Purse: $60,000
Jockey: Luis Saez
Trainer: Mark E. Casse
B: Porta Pia Stables LLC (KY)
Saratoga – Race 10 Order Of Finish: Purse $400,000 – Lake Placid S. (G2T)
1st – Naomis (FR) — Purse: $220,000
City Light (FR) – Biting (GB) | 3YO Filly
Jockey: Flavien Prat
Trainer: Chad C. Brown
B: Mme Yvette Pantall & S.A.S. Ecurie Pantall (FR)
2nd – Ultimate Love — Purse: $80,000
Curlin – Tsunami of Love | 3YO Filly
Jockey: Paco Lopez
Trainer: Michael J. Trombetta
B: Live Oak Stud (FL)
3rd – Deep Learning — Purse: $48,000
Cairo Prince – Dovima | 3YO Filly
Jockey: Manuel Franco
Trainer: Chad C. Brown
B: Tony Dardis, Dell Ridge Farm, Ken Donworth & Desmond Ryan (KY)
Saratoga – Race 11 Order Of Finish: Purse $500,000 – Forego S. (G1)
1st – Hymn — Purse: $275,000
McKinzie – Salt Bae | 4YO Gelding
Jockey: Ricardo Santana, Jr.
Trainer: Ron Moquett
B: Fleur de Lis Stables (KY)
2nd (DH) – Senior Officer — Purse: $80,000
Into Mischief – Southern Ring | 5YO Gelding
Jockey: Luis Saez
Trainer: Brad H. Cox
B: 2500 Determined Stud (MD)
2nd (DH) – T Kraft — Purse: $80,000
Connect – Margarita Friday | 4YO Colt
Jockey: Junior Alvarado
Trainer: William I. Mott
B: Dr. John Eaton & Dr. Steve Laymon (KY)
Saratoga – Race 12 Order Of Finish: Purse $500,000 – Resorts World Casino Ballerina S. (G1)
1st – Ways and Means — Purse: $275,000
Practical Joke – Strong Incentive | 5YO Mare
Jockey: Flavien Prat
Trainer: Chad C. Brown
B: Klaravich Stables (KY)
2nd – Kilwin — Purse: $100,000
Twirling Candy – Spanish Star | 4YO Filly
Jockey: Jose L. Ortiz
Trainer: George R. Arnold II
B: Gilder-Schwarz Farms LLC (KY)
3rd – Beauty Reigns — Purse: $60,000
Into Mischief – Ilsa | 4YO Filly
Jockey: Junior Alvarado
Trainer: William I. Mott
B: Wygod Equine, LLC (KY)
Saratoga – Race 13 Order Of Finish: Purse $1,250,000 – DraftKings Travers S. (G1)
1st – Leading Change — Purse: $687,500
Gun Runner – Starship Warpspeed | 3YO Colt
Jockey: Manuel Franco
Trainer: Brad H. Cox
B: WinStar Farm, LLC (KY)
2nd – Napoleon Solo — Purse: $250,000
Liam's Map – Atomic Blonde | 3YO Colt
Jockey: John R. Velazquez
Trainer: Chad Summers
B: John D. Gunther & Eurowest Bloodstock (KY)
3rd – Golden Tempo — Purse: $150,000
Curlin – Carrumba | 3YO Colt
Jockey: Jose L. Ortiz
Trainer: Cherie DeVaux
B: Phipps Stable & St. Elias Stables, LLC (KY)
Saratoga – Race 14 Order Of Finish: Purse $120,000 – Allowance Optional Claiming
1st – People Watching — Purse: $66,000
Twirling Candy – Cosmic Burst | 3YO Filly
Jockey: Katie Davis
Trainer: Thomas F. Proctor
B: Willow Oaks Stable, LLC (KY)
2nd – Tax Holiday (GB) — Purse: $24,000
Kingman (GB) – Secret Soul (GB) | 3YO Filly
Jockey: Flavien Prat
Trainer: Chad C. Brown
B: Newsells Park Stud (GB)
3rd – Alone Time — Purse: $14,400
Justify – Weekday (GB) | 3YO Filly
Jockey: Manuel Franco
Trainer: Cherie DeVaux
B: John D. Gunther, Tanya Gunther & Eurowest Bloodstock Services (KY)
2026 Travers Stakes Post Positions and Odds
Post 1: Emerging Market, 15-1
Post 2: Leading Change, 12-1
Post 3: Napoleon Solo, 8-1
Post 4: The Puma, 8-1
Post 5: Renegade, 3-1
Post 6: Ocelli, 5-1
Post 7: Sea Strike, 20-1
Post 8: Baby Vino, 5-1
Post 9: Golden Tempo, 5-2
Post 10: Silent Tactic, 10-1
What Horses Are Running in the 2026 Travers Stakes?
Official entries are drawn and confirmed by NYRA closer to race day. As of early August 2026, frequently mentioned probable and possible contenders include:
Emerging Market (Chad Brown, Ricardo Santana Jr., 15-1)
Leading Change (Brad Cox, Manny Franco, 12-1)
Napoleon Solo (Chad Summers, John Velazquez, 8-1)
The Puma (Gustavo Delgado, Javier Castellano, 8-1)
Renegade (Todd Pletcher, Tyler Gaffalione, 3-1)
Ocelli (Whit Beckman, Edgard Zayas, 20-1)
Sea Strike (Chad Brown, Flavien Prat, 5-1)
Baby Vino (Lindsay Schultz, Paco Lopez, 10-1)
Golden Tempo (Cherie DeVaux, Jose Ortiz, 5-2)
Silent Tactic (Mark Casse, Luis Saez, 10-1)
Other possibles include Ocelli, Counting Stars, Chief Wallabee, Napoleon Solo, Emerging Market, and Sabino Canyon. The field, connections, and status are subject to change.
How Much Is the Travers Stakes Purse in 2026?
The 2026 DraftKings Travers Stakes carries a purse of $1,250,000. Across the full Travers Day card, the five Grade 1 races combine for $3.25 million in purse money.
2026 Travers Stakes Prize Money Breakdown
Total purse: $1,250,000.
Travers Stakes (G1) — $1,250,000
Personal Ensign (G1) — $500,000
Forego (G1) — $500,000
H. Allen Jerkens Memorial (G1) — $500,000
Resorts World Casino Ballerina (G1) — $500,000
That's $3.25 million in Grade 1 prize money across five races on a single card, plus additional supporting stakes.
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