Leader of Men will try the Super Derby next

Leader of Men is headed for the Grade 3, $300,000 Super Derby next month at Louisiana Downs after winning his fourth straight race at the Bossier City, La., track Saturday.

Leader of Men won the $60,000 Prelude Stakes to continue a win streak that started with a maiden special weight over the local turf course May 6. Leader of Men then won backto-back allowance routes over older horses on the main track before earning a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 80 in the Prelude.

“We’ve got to try the Super Derby,” said trainer Jodie Hodges. “He’s done nothing wrong. He’s won four times in four starts here.”

Hodges said Leader of Men emerged from the Prelude in excellent condition, so full of himself that he even returned to the track Monday. That was earlier than planned, said Hodges.

“We couldn’t keep him in the barn,” he said.

Leader of Men is a halfbrother to Grade 1 winners Hoppertunity and Executiveprivilege owned by Walpole Racing. He was a private purchase following a sixthplace finish in a $50,000 maidenclaiming race Feb. 7 at Santa Anita. Leader of Men proceeded to run fourth and 11th in a pair of maiden races at Fair Grounds before coming to hand at Louisiana Downs.

“He’s a May 28 baby,” Hodges said. “This horse wasn’t mature at all. He was just a big old baby. Before, he wouldn’t go after a horse. He’s learning to race.

“This was the best race he’s run by far.”

Leader of Men sat off a controlled pace in the Prelude, overtook the leaders in the stretch, and went on to a length win. The race was run at 1 1/16 miles, which is the same distance as this year’s Super Derby. Hector Del-Cid, who is a perfect 4 for 4 on Leader of Men, has the mount in the Super Derby, said Hodges. The horse will prep for the race at his base of Louisiana Downs.

“He’ll get a few breezes,” Hodges said. “This horse keeps himself fit. All he wants to do is train.”

And win.

Tests for Mr Money Bags

Mr Money Bags, a threetime stakes winner who was scratched from the $60,000 Prelude Stakes on Saturday at Louisiana Downs, will be undergoing some tests, trainer Mike Neatherlin said Monday.

Neatherlin said Mr Money Bags was scratched because he appeared to be displaying symptoms of colic and was treated. He said the high-energy horse went back to the track Monday, but later in the morning was not himself and plans were made to run some tests.

“He galloped great,” Neatherlin said. “But when we put him in the stall [after being cooled out] he stood in the back. It’s just not him. He’s just real quiet. He’s flat. Hopefully, the tests will kind of tell us more.”

Mr Money Bags was expected to be favored in the Prelude. Earlier this year, he won three restricted stakes by a combined margin of 30 lengths. He is based at Louisiana Downs for breeder and owner Roy W. Cobb.

Florida shipper favored

Louisiana Downs has a pair of allowance races on its sevenrace card Wednesday and one of them drew a Gulfstream Park invader in Gerrys Big Win.

Gerrys Big Win figures to start as a strong favorite in the sixth race, a nonwinners-of-two sprint for fillies and mares at 6 1/2 furlongs. She was second by a neck in a $16,000 claiming sprint July 7 at Gulfstream, and the Beyer Speed Figure of 77 she earned is 28 points higher than the next-best last-race number in the field Wednesday.

Alex Castillo has the mount on Gerrys Big Win for owner and trainer Ralph Nicks, who as a trainer is 3 for 4 this meet at Louisiana Downs.

The seventh race is a firstlevel allowance sprint at about five furlongs on the grass, and the chief players in the nine-horse field appear to be Theboyzdelight, Miracle Master, and Big Bobby Brown. Miracle Master is trying turf off back-to-back wins on the main track at Louisiana Downs, while Big Bobby Brown is cutting back to one turn following consecutive turf route wins at Fair Grounds and Louisiana Downs.

Thunder Mesa solid at Retama

Thunder Mesa, a winner of two races in his last four starts, should go favored in Wednesday night’s featured eighth race at Retama Park near San Antonio.

The first-level allowance is for 3-year-olds and up at a mile on turf and drew a field of 10.

Thunder Mesa was second at the same condition in his last start July 14 at Lone Star Park. Trainer Karl Broberg has given the mount to Rudy Guerra.

Also on the card, Right Lane Lukasz returns to the overnight ranks for the sixth race, an optional $20,000 claimer at 7 1/2 furlongs on turf. He was third in the $50,000 Assault Stakes in his last start, July 14 at Lone Star.