Leader of Men sidelined until January

Leader of Men, who won four straight races at Louisiana Downs this meet, emerged from his sixth-place finish in the Sept. 7 Super Derby with a bone chip in his right foreleg, according to trainer Jodie Hodges.

“He didn’t have his usual kick,” Hodges said. “He chipped an ankle. A tiny, tiny chip.”

Hodges said Leader of Men had arthroscopic surgery to remove the chip at a new clinic in Ardmore, Okla., and is back recuperating at his barn in Louisiana. He looks for the horse to return to the races after the first of the year. Hodges will winter at Fair Grounds in New Orleans.

Hodges trains Leader of Men for Walpole Stable. The horse won his maiden and two allowances at Louisiana Downs before taking the Super Derby prep, the Prelude Stakes, in August. Leader of Men is a half-brother to multiple Grade 1 winner Hoppertunity.