This summer’s Grade 1 contests for three-year-olds continue to produce unexpected stars. In this latest installment, Leading Change captured the limelight under pilot Manny Franco, who drove the promising but inexperienced Gun Runner colt past Preakness Stakes victor Napoleon Solo in the final stages of the $1.25 million Grade 1 DraftKings Travers Stakes on August 29 at Saratoga Race Course.
Conditioned by Brad Cox, Leading Change entered the historic race with a mere two career starts under his belt, featuring a maiden-breaking performance in June followed by a score in July’s Grade 3 Indiana Derby. Any concerns regarding his brief track record were quickly overshadowed by raw ability, as Leading Change caught a courageous Napoleon Solo in the dying strides to secure a half-length triumph in Saratoga’s classic event for sophomores.
With this victory, Leading Change defeated the conquerors of all three 2026 Triple Crown legs, leaving Napoleon Solo in the runner-up spot. Golden Tempo, who captured both the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve and the Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets, crossed the line in third. The 10-furlong distance was completed in a time of 2:02.98, with Leading Change returning a $22.76 win payout.
“His morning preparations always gave me the impression he was suited for a classic mile-and-a-quarter distance. He is a quality individual,” remarked Cox regarding the winner. “I am thrilled he delivered on this stage. Ultimately, despite his limited experience, his sheer class carried him through, and we couldn’t be more pleased with his effort.”
Sired by Horse of the Year and Breeders’ Cup Classic champion Gun Runner, and sharing a dam with Kentucky Oaks heroine Shedaresthedevil, the colt boasted the exact pedigree needed to validate Cox’s confidence in his endurance.
“His breeding really showed today,” Cox noted.
Golden Tempo closed from next-to-last in the ten-horse lineup to finish 2 1/4 lengths adrift of the winner, shaking up the hierarchy of the sophomore division, even if the two-time classic champion still holds the top spot as the Breeders’ Cup approaches.
“Were the ballots cast this afternoon, Golden Tempo still warrants the Eclipse Award in my eyes,” Cox commented. “This may be the Midsummer Derby, but we are well past the halfway mark of the season. We will observe how the division develops. Our plan is to ship (Leading Change) back to our Kentucky base, and while his next destination is undecided, we will continue his progression.”
This marked the second Travers triumph for Cox, who previously won with Essential Quality in 2021. For the ownership group Wathnan Racing (representing Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar), it represented their second top-tier win of the season and fourth Grade 1 success overall in North America, following Commandment’s breakthrough in the Curlin Florida Derby.
In the 157th edition of the race, Napoleon Solo dictated terms early, maintaining a one-length advantage over Curlin Stakes victor Sea Strike through steady splits of :23.66, :47.95, and 1:12.62. Meanwhile, betting favorite Golden Tempo and Renegade, the Kentucky Derby second-place finisher and Jim Dandy Stakes presented by Mohegan Sun champion, trailed far behind, spotting the leader roughly 16 lengths after a half-mile. Sea Strike challenged for the advantage coming off the turn, but a resilient Napoleon Solo, guided by John Velazquez, resisted the threat. Golden Tempo initiated a rally along the rail but lacked the momentum to sustain it, as Sea Strike weakened to sixth and Renegade never overcame a poor break, ultimately checking in eighth.
The day, however, belonged to Leading Change. After initiating a sharp start and subsequently easing into third along the inside rail, he was angled outward at the head of the stretch, drawing level with Napoleon Solo near the sixteenth pole before surging ahead just before the wire.
For Manny Franco, who has enjoyed a stellar Saratoga season with 58 victories (trailing leading rider Jose Ortiz by a mere seven wins), this second Travers triumph served as a major highlight of his summer campaign.
“Our race unfolded exactly as planned, as we aimed to track just behind Napoleon Solo and Sea Strike,” noted Franco, who previously captured the 2020 Travers with Tiz the Law. “I saved ground on the fence throughout the run. Once we hit the stretch, I guided him outside, and he really found his stride and fought hard.”
For Chad Summers, trainer of the multiple Grade 1 victor Napoleon Solo, the performance evoked a blend of frustration and immense pride. “He gives his all in every single race. I could not be prouder of him.”
Summers indicated that the Liam’s Map colt would receive nominations for both the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile and the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic.
For Golden Tempo, the defeat dashed any prospects of duplicating the historic feat achieved by 2025 Horse of the Year Sovereignty, who swept the Kentucky Derby, Belmont Stakes, and Travers a year prior.
“He left himself with a lot of ground to cover,” observed trainer Cherie DeVaux after Golden Tempo’s first outing since his June 6 Belmont Stakes triumph. “The slow pace didn’t play to his strengths, leaving him with too much work late. Most importantly, he emerged from the race in good health.”
A crowd of 47,659 was on hand at Saratoga for Travers Day, generating an all-sources wagering handle of $60,863,320, marking the second-largest handle in the history of the event.
