Historical clue formulations

• In the lead — 2026-08-09
• In the #1 position — 2025-08-24
• Seeded #1, say — 2025-05-22
• Good way to come out — 2025-04-10
• In first place — 2024-06-17
• Winning — 2023-07-28
• Leading — 2023-06-25
• Ranked #1 — 2023-04-16
• Leading — 2023-02-23
• Winning — 2022-08-24
• #1 in the rankings — 2022-07-27
• In first place — 2022-05-19
• Winning — 2020-01-27
• #1 in the standings — 2018-04-21
• Leading the pack — 2016-03-15
• Leading — 2015-08-23
• In first place — 2014-11-25
• Winning — 2014-07-15
• Winning — 2014-06-23
• Leading — 2013-06-20
• Above — 2011-04-17
• Victorious — 2010-05-06
• First in the rankings — 2009-07-20
• Leading — 2008-10-03
• Leading — 2008-05-08
• Leading the field — 2007-11-18
• Ahead — 2007-02-25
• Good way to go out — 2005-05-04
• Winning — 2004-06-20
• Successful — 2004-06-15
• In first place — 2004-05-03
• Ahead of the pack — 2004-03-18
• Good way to go out — 2004-02-07
• ... — 2004-01-15
• Leading — 2003-08-19
• Leading the pack — 2003-05-30
• In the upper berth — 2002-07-01
• Winning — 2000-12-04
• Victorious — 2000-06-26
• Victorious — 2000-01-08
• Victorious — 1999-12-31
• In first place: 2 wds. — 1999-12-05
• Winning — 1999-10-24
• Triumphant — 1999-10-17
• Bunk position — 1998-02-22
• Where to put the cherry of a sundae — 1997-04-15
• "___ of Old Smoky" — 1997-04-14
• Leading — 1996-06-06
• In the lead — 1996-02-08
• Victorious — 1995-04-23