When you're the half-brother to a multiple Grade I winner, expectations are always high, but Leading Change (Gun Runner) took a big first step to filling those shoes with a dazzling debut at Churchill Downs to earn a 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' nod.Selling for the princely price of $800,000 as a yearling at the 2024 Keeneland September sale, the son of Gun Runner had a respectable worktab under his belt by the time he was entered for this contest. Drawn to the far outside, the post made little difference to the betting public when they sent him away as the heavy 6-5 favorite.Leading Change broke well and stalked the action from third on the outside of the dueling early pace set in :22.59 and a crisp :45.13 for the half. The looming danger as heads turned for home, he quickly overtook that pair and extended his advantage on the rest with every stride. The Brad Cox trainee hit the wire 6 1/2 lengths in front of Don's Winner (Game Winner), who snuck up in the final strides to claim second.The final time for the seven furlongs was 1:21.06. Leading Change is Gun Runner's 24th 'TDN Rising Star' and is owner Wathnan Racing's second on the afternoon behind Sneakily (Tapit) in race 5.The victor is a half-brother to the aforementioned multiple Grade I winner and GI Kentucky Oaks heroine Shedaresthedevil (Daredevil), $2,777,458, who sold to Whisper Hill Farm at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton November sale for $5-million to buy out a partnership. Her first to come of racing age is a juvenile filly by Gun Runner named Tinker Taylor.His other half-siblings include fellow 'Rising Star' Star of Wonder (Uncle Mo), SW-KSA, GSP-USA, $419,347 and Mojovation (Quality Road), GSP, $375,988 as well as the dam of GISP La Wally (Constitution). The late Starship Warpspeed was barren on her 2024 Uncle Mo cover, making Leading Change her final offspring. This is the immediate female family of GSW & MGISP Crafty C. T. and MGSP Carmen's Baby.9th-Churchill Downs, $118,076, Msw, 6-7, 3yo/up, 7f, 1:21.06, ft, 6 1/2 lengths.LEADING CHANGE, c, 3, by Gun Runner 1st Dam: Starship Warpspeed, by Congrats 2nd Dam: Andria's Forest, by Forestry 3rd Dam: Andriana B., by Far NorthSales history: $800,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $68,496. O-Wathnan Racing; B-WinStar Farm, LLC (KY); T-Brad H. Cox.Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.The post Gun Runner’s Leading Change Dazzles on Debut, Newest ‘Rising Star’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.