By admin 
Perseverance paid off for trainer Bobby Leaf III in Sunday’s second race at Laurel Park, when the 32-year-old saddled his first winner after 25 previous attempts.
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“I tried to get my trainer’s license three years ago, but I failed,” Leaf said in the winner’s circle after Fan Club’s stalk-and-pounce victory with jockey Warren Ebow III.
Leaf said he procrastinated on the application process, but he passed the exam in March.
“I’m a farrier,” said Leaf. “That’s what I do as a full-time job, but I’ve always loved horses, and it snowballed into some clients and some people sending me some horses, and now I’m just taking it a little more seriously.”
Leaf’s father, Robert Leaf Jr., is also a trainer in Maryland. “Me and my dad are a team. He was [Fan Club’s] trainer until March, and now I’m the trainer.”
In addition to the 13 horses he has in training, Leaf also owns mares, yearlings, re-homed horses, and retired horses on his farm. “This win really helps take care of all of them. Fan Club is taking care of the whole barn,” Leaf exclaimed.
Fan Club is an 8-year-old gelding by Street Sense, out of Secret Return by Put It Back. Leaf claimed him for $12,500 after a runner-up effort at Laurel on February 28.
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“When I claimed him, I didn’t even know he was 8 years old,” Leaf admitted. “I just saw how much heart he had, and he tried every time. I didn’t really care about the rest of the information about him. And I liked that he was by Street Sense. I like going by good sires.”
Fan Club finished second in his first start for Leaf, then sixth of eight in a $20,000 claimer on turf on April 25. After a freshening, the bay just missed in an $8,000 at Timonium on August 29.
“I gave him some time off because he had some wear and tear,” Leaf said about the layoff. “He had four months on the farm, and he spruced right back up. He’s been perfect. I love him.”
Leaf had immense confidence in Fan Club this afternoon. “I knew [he] was gonna pull it off for us and give me my first win because he’s all heart.”
Fan Club, a $325,000 yearling purchase in 2019, has won 8 of 40 starts for $326,464. He was claimed for $7,500 by trainer Mike Geralis, but Leaf said he’ll continue to keep an eye on his first winner.
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This story was originally published September 13, 2026 at 3:47 PM.