Change of Command Sets Record

A change of scenery has meant little to Change of Command, as the Maryland-bred son of Gators N Bears continues an impressive run of in-the-money finishes that began September 5, 2012 at Laurel Park. Since finishing second in an allowance event that day, Change of Command has had eight in-the-money finishes in his last nine races, the only blemish coming in a race at Gulfstream where he finished fourth, after battling on the lead right from the gate before tiring inside the eighth pole.

First stakes win one for the record books

During this stretch of races, Change of Command has scored three wins, three seconds and two thirds. Most recently he shipped to New Jersey, where this past weekend he scored his first stakes triumph in the $75,000 Elkwood Stakes, run at one mile on the Monmouth Turf course. Under jockey Joe Bravo, Change of Command overcame early traffic trouble and a wide trip to win by a neck in 1:33.33, breaking the six-year-old course record by just over three-tenths of a second. He broke from post 7 as the 5-1 fifth choice in the field of six.

Picks up career win number eight in 22 starts

This was Change of Command’s second consecutive out-of-state stakes try. In the $50,000 Da Hoss at Virginia’s Colonial Downs on June 22, 2013, he also ran into traffic trouble, was fanned five-wide, and then checked at the 3/16 pole before regaining momentum and making a charge in the late stretch to get up for third, beaten less than two-lengths by heavy favorite Hudson Steele, a Grade II winner last season.  Since breaking his maiden at first asking in 2011 at Laurel Park, Change of Command has an overall record of 8-4-5 in 22 starts.