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Napoleon Solo Will Compete In Travers, John Velazquez To Ride
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- Napoleon Solo Will Compete In Travers, John Velazquez To Ride
Napoleon Solo Will Compete In Travers, John Velazquez To Ride
Preakness winner Napoleon Solo will contest the Grade 1 Travers on Aug. 29 at Saratoga, trainer Chad Summers confirmed Thursday to the Daily Racing Form .
The son of Liam's Map worked four furlongs in :47.67 over the Saratoga main track on Thursday, Aug. 20. It was the fastest of 41 at the distance.
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According to a post on X by DRF 's David Grening, Napoleon Solo will be ridden by John Velazquez in the Travers. Velazquez is the fourth different rider carried by Napoleon Solo.
Kendrick Carmouche was aboard for a debut score as a juvenile and a fifth-place finish in the G2 Fountain of Youth. Joel Rosario was in the irons for a 6 ½-length romp in the G1 Champagne, meanwhile Paco Lopez partnered with the colt in his last three starts, including the Preakness victory and a runner-up effort in the G1 Haskell last out.
Velazquez was aboard for a workout on Aug. 12 when Napoleon Solo clocked five furlongs in :58.81 over the Saratoga main track.
The 1 ¼-mile Travers will mark the first meeting between the Preakness winner and Golden Tempo, winner of the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes.
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Napoleon Solo is owned by ESPOIR USA, which acquired the colt for an undisclosed price after his Preakness victory. Summers purchased the colt for his previous owner, Gold Square, for $40,000 at the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
Napoleon Solo was bred in Kentucky by John D. Gunther and Eurowest Bloodstock. He is out of the stakes-winning Scat Daddy mare Atomic Blonde.
This story was originally published by Paulick Report on Aug 20, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Paulick Report as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
