Leading Change turned his second start into a Grade 3 breakthrough Saturday at Horseshoe Indianapolis, edging the seasoned Our Moneyman by a neck in the Indiana Derby. The Wathnan Racing colt covered 1 1/16 miles in 1:41.36 and gave Brad Cox a colt who looked far more seasoned than his record suggested.
Leading Change came into the race with just one start on his résumé. He had broken his maiden at Churchill Downs by 6 1/2 lengths, then jumped straight into graded company and handled the rise with poise under Irad Ortiz Jr. The Gun Runner colt answered with a sustained finish when Our Moneyman asked for the same fight.
Our Moneyman stayed honest throughout and delivered another solid effort against quality company, but Leading Change found the better turn of foot in the stretch. The final neck separated Leading Change and Our Moneyman.
Wathnan Racing sent a lightly raced colt straight into stakes company and got a horse that looked ready for more. Cox now has a sophomore dirt horse who has already shown he can win easily at Churchill Downs and then step forward again in a graded stakes at Indiana.
Our Moneyman, meanwhile, left with his standing intact. The son of Mr. Money ran well enough to remain a player for similar stakes at this distance, and his runner-up finish was no throwaway behind a colt with this kind of upside.
Every story on Horse Racing News is assembled by an automated editorial system that works from verified research, official records, and credible reporting, then clears automated accuracy and moderation checks before it goes live. The standards that system follows are set and overseen by the people who run the publication. Read our full editorial policy.
Did this article answer your question?
