Leader of Men takes another step forward in Prelude Stakes

Leader of Men traveled five wide on the final turn and dug in through the stretch to win his fourth straight race Saturday in the $60,000 Prelude Stakes at Louisiana Downs – and punch his ticket to next month’s Grade 3, $300,000 Super Derby.

The Prelude awarded its first four finishers a fees-paid berth into the Super Derby on Sept. 7. Trevilion finished a length back in second Saturday, while it was another length to Paynt Battle in third. Rotation, the second choice to slight favorite Blessed Again, finished fourth after stumbling badly at the start. (The field was scratched down to six following the defection of Mr Money Bags.)

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Leader of Men ($18.80), who is a half-brother to multiple Grade 1 winner Hoppertunity, was content to let the field go in the early stages Saturday, settling in fifth as Fredonian set controlled fractions of 25.23 seconds for the opening quarter and 49.96 for the half-mile. Leader of Men advanced down the backside, went five wide on the turn as Trevilion took over through six furlongs in 1:14.03, then worked past that one in the stretch while covering 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:45.96.

Hector Del-Cid was aboard, just as he has been for all of Leader of Men’s starts this meet at Louisiana Downs. The horse won a maiden special weight route on the turf in his local debut May 6, an entry-level allowance route on the main track May 27, and a second-level allowance route on dirt on July 8 before taking the Prelude.

“He’s finally starting to grow up,” trainer Jodie Hodges said on the simulcast feed from Louisiana Downs. “He’s a May 20th baby. He’s finally starting to grow up.”

Kevin Walpole of Walpole Racing told Louisiana Downs publicist Martha Claussen on the simulcast feed that the intent is to advance to the Super Derby. Walpole privately purchased Leader of Men, who started his career in Southern California. Walpole said the Prelude was his first stakes win as an owner, and that he has been in racing for about six years. Leader of Men, a gelding by War Front, is a half-brother to both Hoppertunity, who earned $4.7 million, and the multiple Grade 1 winner Executiveprivilege.

Leader of Men has now won 4 of 10 starts, with the first-place check of $36,000 on Saturday pushing his career earnings to $76,521.

Mr Money Bags, a three-time stakes winner coming off a troubled sixth place finish in the Iowa Derby, was expected to start as the probable favorite. But, after showing slight symptoms of colic and subsequently being treated, he was scratched, trainer Mike Neatherlin said earlier Saturday.

“I don’t think it’s serious,” Neatherlin said. “It wasn’t real bad. He just wasn’t quite acting right.”

Neatherlin said provided Mr Money Bags bounces back well, the goal remains a start in the Super Derby.