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Xchanger remains undefeated in Sapling Circle Z Stables' XCHANGER (Exchange Rate) ranged up from the outside turning for home, exchanged bumps with runner-up Actin Good (Yes It's True) near the furlong marker, and then drove to a three-quarters of a length victory in Monday's $150,000 Sapling S. (G3) at Monmouth Park. The gray colt completed the six-furlong distance in 1:10 3/5 on the fast track under leading rider Joe Bravo and paid $11.60, $6.00 and $4.40 as the 9-2 fourth choice. Actin Good, whose rider Jose Velez Jr. claimed foul for interference in the stretch, finished a head in front of Buffalo Man (El Prado [Ire]) and returned $7.80 and $4.00. Buffalo Man fought for the lead along the inside in deep stretch and paid $3.80 to show. The $2 exacta returned $83.80, the $1 trifecta paid $120.40, and with 7-5 favorite Air Lord (Stormin Fever) in fourth, the $1 superfecta (5-6-1-3) was good for $298.40. Air Lord, trained by Todd Pletcher, had to wait for room approaching the turn, then closed well on the far outside, while Datrick (Favorite Trick), the 3-1 second choice, was in the mix early before fading to fifth. Longshots King Barney (Exciting Story) and First Cavalry (Forest Camp) rounded out the field. After a scramble for the early lead, Xchanger circled the field around the turn before winning his second race in as many starts. The winner's share of $90,000 boosted his lifetime earnings to $111,600. The opening fractions were :22 1/5 and :45 2/5. Trained by Mark Shuman, the winner broke his maiden by a widening 4 3/4 lengths under Bravo in his debut on August 9 at Monmouth. "We wanted to come here for his next race based on the way he ran his last, the way he came out of it and the way Joe (Bravo) showed enthusiasm after his maiden win," Shuman said. Out of the winning Crafty Prospector mare Saragoza, Xchanger was sold for $40,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale. Shuman said Xchanger could be pointed toward the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) on November 4 at Churchill Downs. "There's two races at Belmont, one of them being the Futurity ([G2] on September 23)," Shuman said. "We'll let him tell us when he's ready. We don't want to push him, but if he goes to Belmont and does well, we might take a chance at the Breeders' Cup at Churchill."
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