Inexperience no hurdle for Leading Change in Travers

Ten years after Arrogate set multiple records winning the Travers (G1) in his stakes debut, another unconventional winner of the $1.25 million “Midsummer Derby” emerged on Saturday when Leading Change defeated a far more experienced group of rivals to win the Travers in his third lifetime start.

Leading Change didn’t debut until June 7, the day after 2-1 Travers favorite Golden Tempo landed his second classic win of the season in the Belmont (G1), which came five weeks after his come-from-behind win in the Kentucky Derby (G1). Leading Change showed a lot of promise that day, winning a seven-furlong Churchill Downs maiden by 6 1/2 lengths, but seemed far from a likely starter in the Travers, much less its eventual winner.

Leading Change took another step toward that lofty goal by winning his two-turn debut, the 1 1/16-mile Indiana Derby (G3), albeit by a neck after a prolonged stretch duel. He was also the 1-2 favorite there, which said a lot about his competition. Still, it was encouraging enough for connections to roll the dice on Saturday. 

Besides Golden Tempo, unraced in the 12 weeks since the Belmont, the Travers field included dual classic-placed and Jim Dandy (G2) winner Renegade, Preakness (G1) scorer Napoleon Solo, Haskell (G1) upsetter Baby Vino, Curlin S. winner Sea Strike, and an assortment of other graded stakes winners as well as the maiden Ocelli. Leading Change was sent off as the 10-1 fifth choice.

“I think this is a solid group of three-year-olds, but there was no one to really be scared of based on the two figures that he’d run," winning trainer Brad Cox said.

It was good to be on or near the pace in this Travers. Leading Change briefly led the field passing the stands before yielding the advantage to Napoleon Solo, who proceeded to set the tempo for more than nine furlongs. Leading Change, under Manny Franco, settled in third inside of the stalking Sea Strike, while Golden Tempo and Renegade were the back markers in the field of 10. 

Napoleon Solo was still hanging tough with a furlong to go when Sea Strike began to retreat, and Leading Change had worked his way around to take aim at the long-time leader. It took Leading Change a bit to pick up, but when he did, he wore down Napoleon Solo in time to finish a half-length ahead.

Napoleon Solo finished 1 3/4 lengths ahead of Golden Tempo, the only horse to rally meaningfully from the back and who had taken an inside route into contention. Finishing a length farther back was The Puma, who was followed by Emerging Market, Sea Strike, Baby Vino, Renegade, and Ocelli. Silent Tactic swiftly lost ground on the far turn and was eased in the stretch.

Owned by Wathnan Racing, Leading Change paid $22.76 after covering 1 1/4 miles over a fast track in 2:02.98.

Leading Change was an intended starter last October, but his career was delayed due to bone bruising. Still, he remained a prospect highly thought of by Cox.

“We’ve always thought he was a big-time talent,” Cox said. “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."

Leading Change is a Gun Runner half-brother to 2020 Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Shedaresthedevil, a three-time Grade 1 winner overall. Both were reared by Starship Warpspeed, by Congrats.