Published on: August 29, 2026
Golden Tempo came to Saratoga with the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes on his resume. Napoleon Solo had the Preakness. Neither got the Travers.
Leading Change upset the 2026 Travers Stakes at Saratoga, running down Preakness winner Napoleon Solo in the final strides to win by a half-length in 2:02.98. Manuel Franco rode the Brad Cox-trained colt, making only his third career start, to the Grade 1 victory. Leading Change paid $22.76 to win, while Kentucky Derby and Belmont winner Golden Tempo finished third.
Race facts: 157th Travers Stakes (G1) – Saratoga Race Course – 1 1/4 miles, dirt – $1.25 million purse – Winning time: 2:02.98 – Win payout: $22.76. For the official chart, payouts, and complete order of finish, see the Equibase Travers Stakes results.
The Travers Stakes 2026 results delivered one of Saratoga’s biggest three-year-old upsets, with Leading Change beating both the Preakness winner and the Kentucky Derby–Belmont winner.
I picked Sea Strike off his Curlin effort and 102 Beyer, and he didn’t deliver. That is part of the value of watching the race after making the case on paper: the pace, position, and timing can change the answer quickly. Here is how Leading Change got the run, why the major winners were beaten, and what this result means for the three-year-old division heading toward the Breeders’ Cup.
How the Race Unfolded
Leading Change broke alertly and showed early speed before Napoleon Solo took control on the backstretch. Napoleon Solo set fractions of :23.3, :47.4, and 1:12.3, with Sea Strike applying pressure and Leading Change staying in close stalking range. Franco angled the Gun Runner colt out for his run, and Leading Change wore Napoleon Solo down in the final strides to win by a half-length.
Golden Tempo, the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner, finished third after rallying late but never getting to the first two. The replay shows the tactical difference clearly: Napoleon Solo and Sea Strike were involved early, Leading Change stayed close enough to make one sustained run, and Golden Tempo had more ground to make up.
Why the Triple Crown Winners Were Beaten
Napoleon Solo didn’t fold. He set a measured pace, kept fighting through the stretch, and only lost the lead in the final strides. Golden Tempo was left with the harder assignment: make up real ground from off the pace and still find a way past two horses already in front of him.
The difference was tactical position. Leading Change had the trip to get first run without being part of the early fight, then had the stamina to finish it. Golden Tempo had the class to close, but a measured pace and two quality horses already in front of him left little margin for error.
A Horseman’s Take: A colt winning a Grade 1 in his third start against this field doesn’t happen by accident. Cox and his team placed Leading Change aggressively after a maiden win and the Indiana Derby, and the Travers showed that he belonged. I would still rather see one more race before the Breeders’ Cup Classic than another big jump in class, but there’s no arguing with the way he handled Saratoga.
The 2026 Travers Stakes Top Three Finish Order
| Finish | Horse | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Leading Change | Manuel Franco | Brad Cox |
| 2nd | Napoleon Solo | John Velazquez | Chad Summers |
| 3rd | Golden Tempo | Jose Ortiz | Cherie DeVaux |
Leading Change is a son of Gun Runner out of the Congrats mare Starship Warpspeed, and a half-brother to Grade 1 winner Shedaresthedevil. He entered the Travers off only a maiden win and a victory in the Indiana Derby (G3), making the performance even more remarkable. For additional reporting on Leading Change’s upset and his pedigree, see BloodHorse’s Travers Stakes recap.
What’s Next for the Travers Field
Leading Change now belongs in the conversation for the top of the three-year-old division. Cox now has to decide whether this lightly raced colt needs another start before the Breeders’ Cup Classic or whether the Travers provides enough foundation for a November target.
Napoleon Solo lost little in defeat. He carried the race a long way and held second after setting the pace. Golden Tempo also remains a major player after finishing third in a race where he had to make up ground late. The Travers didn’t settle the division; it added a serious new name to it.
For the full field, pace scenario, and how I had this one shaping up beforehand, see my original 2026 Travers Stakes preview.
About Miles Henry
Racehorse Owner & Author | 30+ Years in Thoroughbred Racing
Miles Henry (legal name: William Bradley) is a professional horseman based in Folsom, Louisiana. He holds Louisiana Racing License #67012 and has spent over three decades managing Thoroughbreds at premier tracks including Fair Grounds, Delta Downs, and Evangeline Downs.
Expertise & Hands-On Experience: Beyond the track, Miles has decades of experience in specialized equine care, covering everything from hoof health and nutrition to training protocols for Quarter Horses, Friesians, and Paints. Every guide on Horse Racing Sense is rooted in this “boots-on-the-ground” perspective.
30 of their last 90 starts
Equibase Profile.
Connect with Miles: