SHELBYVILLE, IN—JUNE 17, 2017—Everything asked of Stone Cold Leader to this point in his career has been accomplished and the two-year-old son of Brookstone Bay didn’t disappoint in his latest task.

Ridden by Rolando Pina, Stone Cold Leader was a comfortable winner in the eighth running of the $184,000 Gordon Mobley Futurity at Indiana Grand Saturday.

Starting from a prime post three in the field of 10, Pina only had to worry about possible bumping at the start as the freshman rocked out of the gate with authority. Once the coast was clear, he was on cruise control, running to the wire under wraps for Pina in a time of :15.469 seconds in the 300-yard dash for registered Indiana sired two-year-olds, a new stakes record.

Stone Cold Leader was two and one-quarter lengths ahead of The Ebony Hare and Giovani Vazquez-Gomez, who won the tight photo over Sixes Loaded to Fly and Rodney Prescott for second.

"Before the gate opened, I was just hoping for no interference," said Pina. "What I was thinking is what came out perfect in the race. This horse (Stone Cold Leader) did it all on his own. He has always done everything on his own to this point."

The heavy favorite of the field after turning in the quickest time in the Mobley Futurity trials, Stone Cold Leader paid $2.40, $3.00, $2.10 across the board. With only four career starts to his credit now, he has three wins in four outings for purses in excess of more than $125,000. He is trained by Joe Davis and owned by Patrick Richardson of South Carolina.

"I met Joe (Davis) at Hialeah through some friends and we connected immediately," said Richardson, who works for NuCor Steel Berkley as a crane operator. "We had a horse with him last year that didn’t race too well, so we went to the sale last fall and actually had another one picked out, but we didn’t get him. So this one (Stone Cold Leader) was our second choice and he’s been a dream come true. I have a small farm in South Carolina so it’s nice to get this win. I have a lot of support that drove up here with me tonight, including my little girl, my fiancé, my parents and friends. It makes the trip worth it."

Richardson had to work when Stone Cold Leader ran in his trial June 3 during the first of six all-Quarter Horse nights of racing for the 2017 season at Indiana Grand. He hopes to work it out where he’s off to watch his next start coming up at Indiana Grand in July. Because he’s so far away from Indiana, Davis keeps him updated on the horse’s progress at Indiana Grand.

"He’s (Stone Cold Leader) probably the soundest horse I have in the barn right now," said Davis, who is leading the Quarter Horse trainer standings this season with 10 wins already. "He needs the least amount of work of anything. He’s not the sharpest breaker, but he’s a racehorse. He may belong outside Indiana but there is a lot for him to do here. We are looking forward to his next start."

Richardson, Davis and Pina were also joined in the winner’s circle by longtime Indiana Quarter Horse owner and breeder, Mark Michel of Pierceton, Ind. Michel has four mares on his farm in northern Indiana and this particular family has already fared well for his operation.

"We raced his mother, Sheza Classy Leader, right here at Indiana Grand," said Michel. "So far, she’s had several runners and this horse (Stone Cold Leader) has a three-year-old full sister (Sheza Classy Bay) in Wednesday. We have a yearling filly out of this mare right now at home and we will most likely take her to the sale in the fall."

Runner-up The Ebony Hare earned $36,800 for owners Ty Benton and Jane Marie Arendsen. Anthony Cunningham saddled the Bug Among Thorns filly with Giovani Vazquez-Gomez getting the riding call. Dicky Wayne Benton bred The Ebony Hare from the Okey Dokey Dale mare Babys Rabbitt.

Duke Racing LLC's Sixes Loaded To Fly picked up $18,400 for finishing third. Bart Sachleben trains the son of Sixes Liaison from the Lock To Load mare Loaded To Fly. Rodney Prescott was aboard the Brian Gunder Indiana-bred.

Chick On The Beach, Beach Mercedes, Got Sand In My Shoes, Jazz Shall Be First, Kitty Sixup and DNA Datesblackbueaty completed the field.

The 15th season of Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing continues through Saturday, Oct. 28. Racing is conducted Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday at 2:05 p.m. EST with Saturday racing beginning at 6:05 p.m. EST. Thursday racing will be held July 6 – Aug. 24 at 2:05 p.m. EST.

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About Indiana Grand Racing & Casino: Indiana Grand Racing & Casino holds multiple awards from industry publications for customer service, entertainment, gaming and dining. Located in Shelbyville, Ind., Indiana Grand features 2,200 of the latest slots and electronic table games in addition to a one-mile dirt race course and a seven-eighths mile turf course offering live Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing each year. Simulcast wagering is also offered year-round at Winner’s Circle Brewpub & OTB located on the casino floor as well as an off-track betting facility located in Clarksville, Ind. For more information, please visit  www.IndianaGrand.com.