Leading Change, with jockey Manny Franco, absolutely stunned the horse racing world on Saturday, taking down the 157th Travers Stakes at Saratoga Race Course as a massive 10-1 longshot. This wasn’t just some random win; this colt, making only his third career start, beat Preakness Stakes champion Napoleon Solo by a half-length in the final yards of the Midsummer Derby. You had to see it to believe it, especially with a crowd of 47,659 going wild.
Talent Over Everything: A Big Ask, A Bigger Answer
Trainer Brad Cox pulled off something special here, proving talent can absolutely trump experience when you have the right horse. Leading Change hadn’t raced further than a mile-and-a-sixteenth before this 1 1/4-mile grind, and this was only his second start around two turns in his entire life. Cox himself called it “a big ask,” saying, “It’s very hard for a horse to come into the Midsummer Derby and have only two career starts.” But man, did Leading Change have the answer, finishing the race in 2 minutes, 2.98 seconds. To beat a field that included Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner Golden Tempo, who finished third, on such limited experience? That’s just wild. Both Cox and Franco now have two Travers victories to their names, cementing their legendary status.
From $800K Yearling To Grade 1 Upset King
This colt’s journey is straight out of a movie. Wathnan Racing bought Leading Change for a cool $800,000 as a yearling in 2024. He didn’t race as a two-year-old, even getting scratched from a planned debut because of bone bruising. But since breaking his maiden at Churchill Downs on June 7 and then winning the Grade 3 Indiana Derby by a neck on July 11, he’s been perfect, now sitting at 3-for-3 in his career. Jockey Manny Franco kept him on the rail through the early fractions, stalking Napoleon Solo and Sea Strike. “When we headed for home, I put (Leading Change) on the outside. He was digging in, so I was happy the way he finished up,” Franco explained. Even Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez, aboard Napoleon Solo, had to admit, “The other one (Leading Change) was better than me. That’s it.” That’s the kind of performance that commands respect.
What’s next for this incredible son of Gun Runner? After a performance like that, showing he can substitute raw talent for seasoning on the biggest stage, the racing world needs to pay attention. He’s proven he belongs at the Grade 1 level, and it feels like this is just the beginning for a horse that Cox calls “a tremendous colt with a tremendous amount of talent.”
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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