Leading Change won a thrilling renewal of Saturday’s $300,000 Indiana Derby (G3) at Horseshoe Indianapolis, holding off Our Moneyman by a neck after a stretch-long battle for his first stakes win.
The 3-year-old colt, who had just one start before Saturday’s win, will go down in the record books as Gun Runner’s 40th lifetime graded winner and his 60th stakes winner overall. In 2026 Gun Runner is currently third in the General Sire list and has 13 stakes winners to date.
Always prominent from the early stages, Leading Change stayed within a length of pacesetter Out of the Woods through a half-mile in :46.42. Leading Change came on even terms with Out of the Woods going into the far turn, with Our Moneyman making it a three-way battle at the top of the stretch. The trio continued to battle down the lane, with Leading Change asserting himself in the final yards to finish the 1 1/16-miles in 1:41.36 on a fast track.
“He’s a nice colt that’s lightly raced, just had the one run,” said winning trainer Brad Cox. “Big ask here today. It was definitely a bit of an unknown with going straight from a maiden race to a Grade III for a 3-year-old, running against seasoned horses. But he showed that he’s got a lot of class and talent.”
Cox was referring to Leading Change’s 6 ½-length debut win June 7 at Churchill Downs. Owned by Wathnan Racing and bred in Kentucky by WinStar Farm, LLC, Leading Change has earned $246,696. He was purchased by his owner for $800,000 at the 2024 Keeneland September sale.
Out of Starship Warpspeed, Leading Change is a half-brother to Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Shedaresthedevil.
