Leading Change remains perfect in Travers upset

Aug 29, 2026 James Scully

Leading Change wins the Travers Stakes at Saratoga. (Photo by Coglianese Photo)

Experience proved overrated in Saturday’s $1.25 million Travers (G1), as Leading Change stepped up to win the prestigious three-year-old event at Saratoga in his third career start. The unbeaten Brad Cox-trained colt surged late to deny pacesetter and Preakness (G1) winner Napoleon Solo.

Kentucky Derby (G1) and Belmont (G1) winner Golden Tempo rallied up the inside to reach a threatening position by deep stretch but lacked the necessary late punch finishing third.

Manny Franco picked up the mount aboard Leading Change, who smartly won his career debut by open lengths at Churchill Downs in early June. The Gun Runner colt stretched to two turns and recorded a game neck triumph in the Indiana Derby (G3) five weeks later, and Leading Change proved courageous while facing a significant class check in the Travers.

Overlooked as the 10-1 fifth choice in the 10-horse field, Leading Change broke on top but conceded the early advantage to Napoleon Solo entering the first turn, racing an up-close third along the inside during the opening stages. He angled out entering the stretch, eventually wearing down the pacesetter and prevailing by a half-length, and Leading Change completed 1 1/4 miles in 2:02.98.

“We’ve always thought he was a big-time talent,” Cox said. “He showed it before today in his first two starts and he was able to get it done today. I said coming into it that he’s light on seasoning, but we were hoping he could make up for it with talent, and he was able to do it.”

Golden Tempo, the 2-1 favorite, finished a length clear of The Puma in fourth, and Emerging Market, Sea Strike, Baby Vino, Renegade, and Ocelli followed. Silent Tactic was eased, walking off the track under his own power.

Bred in Kentucky by WinStar Farm, Leading Change is a half-brother to 2020 Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Shedaresthedevil.

“I had the trip that we expected,” Franco said. “We wanted to be forward, behind Napoleon Solo and Sea Strike, I just sit on the rail the whole way around. Going to the five-sixteenths, my horse was going forward, and I felt that I got horse under me. We turned for home, I put him on the outside and he just leveled out. He was digging in. I was happy with the way he finished up.'

Cox said connections will wait before announcing his next start, but Leading Change will likely point to the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) at Keeneland on Oct. 31.