As rumors continue to swirl about Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s ownership stake in The Puma, the power couple continues to await the horse to run in a marquee race. The Puma was a late scratch just hours before the Kentucky Derby as the horse dealt with swelling in his legs.
Weeks later, The Puma is once again not in the field for the Preakness Stakes. Trainer Gustavo Delgado revealed that The Puma is training with an eye on a July 18th return at the Haskell Stakes at Gulfstream Park.
“The Derby gods said not this time,” Delgado noted in a May 13, 2026, post on X. “But it was still a beautiful experience.
“Thank you to @KentuckyDerby & @ChurchillDowns for putting on the greatest show & party in our sport. The Puma now heads home to Gulfstream Park to train with the Haskell Stakes July 18 in our sights.”
It is not all bad news for Kelce and Swift. The couple is less than two months away from getting married in New York City on July 3, per Page Six.
Here’s what you need to know about Kelce and Swift’s rumored involvement with The Puma.
Rumors Are Heating Up That Taylor Swift & Future Husband Travis Kelce Have an Ownership Stake in The Puma
Kelce and Swift have not spoken publicly about their involvement in The Puma’s ownership team. The rumors intensified after co-owner Michael Lavarone seemed to confirm the chatter on social media.
“OK people. Everyone asking me if Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are partners on The Puma… all I can say is I signed an NDA, so I can’t confirm or deny,” Lavarone explained on an Instagram Story ahead of the Kentucky Derby, per Page Six.
The Puma Is Expected to Miss Both the Preakness & Belmont as the Horse Recovers From a Leg Injury
Not only is The Puma slated to miss the Preakness, but the horse is also expected to skip the Belmont based on the timeline revealed by Delgado. The Puma is still a little more than two months away from racing, which would mean the Belmont race on June 6, appears to be out of reach.
“We discovered some swelling in his leg due to a skin infection,” Gustavo Delgado explained to Kentucky Derby’s Kevin Kerstein on May 2, following the announcement of his scratch at Churchill Downs. “It’s incredibly disappointing but the swelling should go down within a day or two. It’s just really bad timing.”
The Puma’s Odds to Win the Kentucky Derby Surged Prior to Being a Late Scratch
Swift and Kelce’s involvement with The Puma prompted a surge in the odds as the general public enjoyed betting on the celebrity couple’s horse. Fox Sports’ Chris Fallica detailed how sportsbooks were responding to the influx of betting on The Puma.
“Rumors of this Taylor Swift, Travis Kelsey wager or investment in The Puma,” Fallica remarked in an April 29, episode of the “Bear Bets” podcast. “The Puma’s odds have crashed in the early wagering six to one.
“I think this is one of the classic handicapper versus bettor type struggles. Look at the horse on paper and you’re like, the horse won at Tampa. The horse was in a blanket finish in the Florida Derby. The horse figures on paper, but the price probably just isn’t fair.”
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