The 2026 Travers Stakes was supposed to settle another argument between the stars of the Triple Crown season.
Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner Golden Tempo was back. Preakness winner Napoleon Solo was in the field. Arkansas Derby and Jim Dandy winner Renegade was there too.
Instead, the $1.25 million Grade 1 at Saratoga belonged to a colt who had never even raced when the Triple Crown began.
Leading Change won the Travers in just the third start of his career, catching Napoleon Solo in the final stages to win by half a length and announce himself as one of the most exciting three-year-olds in America.
Golden Tempo finished another 1¾ lengths back in third, with The Puma fourth.
For trainer Brad Cox, the result confirmed what he had suspected for some time. Leading Change might lack experience, but he does not lack ability.
From Maiden Winner to Travers Winner in 12 Weeks
Leading Change’s rise has been remarkably quick.
The son of Gun Runner had originally been entered to make his debut at Keeneland in October 2025, but bone bruising forced him to miss the race and spend several months away from training.
He finally appeared at Churchill Downs on June 7, winning a seven-furlong maiden by 6½ lengths.
That date puts his rise into some context.
The Kentucky Derby and Preakness had already been run and the Belmont Stakes had taken place the previous day. While Golden Tempo, Napoleon Solo and Renegade were already established names, Leading Change was only just beginning his racing career.
Five weeks later he was sent to Horseshoe Indianapolis for the Grade 3 Indiana Derby.
It was his first attempt around two turns and his first race against winners, but he passed both tests, holding on to beat Our Moneyman by a neck.
That was enough to convince Cox and owners Wathnan Racing to consider something much more ambitious.
The Travers was next.
Taking On the Best Three-Year-Olds in America
Leading Change went into Saratoga with two wins from two starts, but the opposition was unlike anything he had faced before.
Golden Tempo had won two legs of the Triple Crown. Napoleon Solo had won the Preakness. Renegade had won the Arkansas Derby and Jim Dandy, while the field also included Haskell winner Baby Vino and several other horses who had featured in the main Kentucky Derby prep races.
Leading Change was sent off at 10-1.
Manny Franco, replacing the injured Irad Ortiz Jr., gave him a smart ride from post two.
Napoleon Solo went to the front and completed the opening quarter in 23.66 seconds and the half-mile in 47.95. Leading Change settled just behind him while Sea Strike also raced close to the pace.
That position became important.
Golden Tempo, whose best races have come when closing strongly from the rear, was much further back and found himself with plenty of ground to make up.
As they turned for home, Napoleon Solo fought off Sea Strike and looked capable of holding on.
Leading Change had other ideas.
Franco switched him outside, and the colt gradually cut into Napoleon Solo’s advantage before catching the Preakness winner close to the finish.
Leading Change completed the 1¼ miles in 2:02.98, returned $22.76 for a $2 win bet and earned a career-best 103 Beyer Speed Figure.
Golden Tempo Has an Excuse
Golden Tempo’s third-place finish will naturally attract attention, but there were reasons for his defeat.
He was returning for the first time since the Belmont Stakes after a bacterial infection interrupted his summer campaign.
More importantly, the way the Travers was run did him few favors.
He was well behind the leaders during the early stages and had too much to do when the race began to quicken. Trainer Cherie DeVaux felt the lack of pace worked against her colt, while jockey Jose Ortiz said Golden Tempo still produced a strong late run.
It would therefore be risky to assume Leading Change has suddenly replaced Golden Tempo as the clear leader of the division.
But he has certainly joined the argument.
Another Big Travers for Brad Cox
The victory gave Brad Cox his second Travers success after Essential Quality won the race in 2021.
It also showed the confidence Cox had in Leading Change after the Indiana Derby.
The colt had recorded Beyer figures of 92 on debut and 95 at Horseshoe Indianapolis, with that second figure matching the number Golden Tempo received for winning the Kentucky Derby. Cox felt those performances were good enough to justify taking on much more experienced horses.
Leading Change is also very well bred for top-level racing.
He is by Gun Runner and is a half-brother to Cox’s 2020 Kentucky Oaks winner Shedaresthedevil. Bred by WinStar Farm, he was bought for $800,000 as a yearling.
The Travers victory earned another $687,500.
What Happens Next for Leading Change?
There is no confirmed next race yet.
Cox said after the Travers that Leading Change would return to Kentucky before any future plans were made.
That leaves an interesting question over the Breeders’ Cup.
With only three races behind him, connections could choose to keep testing Leading Change this year, or give him more time with an eye on a four-year-old campaign.
Whatever they decide, the Travers has changed how the colt will be viewed.
Leading Change entered Saratoga as the unbeaten but lightly raced Indiana Derby winner. He left having beaten a field containing the Kentucky Derby winner, Preakness winner, Belmont winner and several of the best three-year-olds from the spring.
Three starts. Three victories.
And after Saturday at Saratoga, Leading Change is no longer simply a promising horse with potential. He is a Grade 1 Travers winner and a serious new name at the top of America’s three-year-old division.
