Leading Change Captures Upset Victory at Travers Stakes

In a stunning display of athleticism at Saratoga Race Course, Leading Change secured a victory in the 157th running of the Grade 1 Travers Stakes. The colt, ridden by jockey Manny Franco and trained by Brad Cox, rallied in the final stretch to defeat front-runner Napoleon Solo by a half-length. The win marked a significant achievement for the relatively inexperienced horse, who was making only his third career start in the $1.25 million race.

The victory provided a career highlight for connections Wathnan Racing and trainer Brad Cox, who won his second Travers. Leading Change, a son of Gun Runner, finished the 1 ¼-mile distance in 2 minutes, 2.98 seconds. The horse defied conventional wisdom by succeeding at the classic distance despite being unraced as a 2-year-old and having limited experience around two turns. The crowd of 47,659 witnessed the 10-1 longshot outrun a competitive field that included Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner Golden Tempo, who finished third.

The event holds particular interest for Churchill Downs Incorporated, the operator of premier racing venues. The company engages in live and historical racing entertainment as well as online wagering. Following the race, shares of Churchill Downs Incorporated were trading at $89.90, reflecting a 3.39% increase from the previous close of $86.95. The company has a market capitalization of approximately $6.52 billion.

Cox noted the challenge of preparing a horse with such limited experience for a stakes race of this caliber, stating that the colt substituted talent for seasoning. Leading Change had previously broken his maiden at Churchill Downs in June before winning the Grade 3 Indiana Derby in July. The team plans to ship the horse back to Kentucky to assess his condition before determining his next schedule.

What to watch

• Upcoming racing calendar and stakes schedules at major tracks.
• Quarterly earnings reports from gaming and racing operators.
• Future entries for Leading Change and Golden Tempo.

Source: original release