A memorable summer sojourn at Saratoga for jockey Manny Franco got that much sweeter with the sun beginning to set Saturday afternoon, as Wathnan Racing's 'TDN Rising Star' LEADING CHANGE (c, 3, Gun Runner–Starship Warpspeed, by Congrats) came after longtime leader Napoleon Solo (Liam's Map) deep inside the final furlong and edged past late to remain undefeated in the $1.25-million GI DraftKings Travers Stakes. 'TDN Rising Star' Golden Tempo (Curlin) made a sustained rally to finish third, just ahead of The Puma (Essential Quality) in fourth.Leading Change bounced beautifully from gate two and led them under the line for the first time, but Preakness winner Napoleon Solo took over rounding the first turn and Franco was content to allow Leading Change to enjoy the run of the race from third on the tail of the pacesetter. 'Rising Star' Sea Strike (Midshipman), so impressive in winning the Curlin Stakes that he was the third choice, prompted the tempo from the outside.The pace, which figured above-par on paper, was not that demanding in actual fact, as Napoleon Solo held the call into the final half-mile after six panels in 1:12.62. Sea Strike looked poised to pounce nearing the stretch, but Franco had saved something on Leading Change and the pair popped out three deep to deliver their challenge at the head of the lane.In the meantime, Golden Tempo had made steady progress and was spying a gap one off the fence between the rail-riding Napoleon Solo and the weakening Sea Strike, but Leading Change had all the answers and surged past a game Napoleon Solo in the dying strides for a famous victory.Winning at a 20% clip at any racing venue is an achievement of the highest order, much less doing it at one of the country's most important and toughest meetings at Saratoga. The Travers is the icing on the cake for Franco, who had previously won the GI Christophe Clement Turf Stakes with Survie (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) and the GI Alabama Stakes with My Gun's Loaded, also a daughter of Gun Runner.“All I can say is wow,” Franco said on his way back to the winner's circle. “Thanks to Brad Cox, the owners, John Panagot, my agent. I wanted to wait behind those two horses and by the three-eighths, he jumped into the bridle. When he got to the outside, he took off. The sky's the limit for him.”Sales history: $800,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0. O-Wathnan Racing; B-WinStar Farm LLC (KY); T-Brad Cox. LEADING CHANGE wins the G1 @DraftKings Travers!He stays perfect at 3-for-3, delivering the biggest win of his career under @jockeyfranco for trainer @bradcoxracing! pic.twitter.com/bCNIkOlMSR— NYRA () (@TheNYRA) August 29, 2026The post Gun Runner’s Leading Change Gives Franco Memorable Travers appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.