in the lead

in the lead (http://definr.com/in the lead)

     adj : having the leading position or higher score in a contest;
           "he is ahead by a pawn"; "the leading team in the
           pennant race" [syn: ahead(p), leading]
     adv : leading or ahead in a competition; "the horse was three
           lengths ahead going into the home stretch"; "ahead by
           two pawns"; "our candidate is in the lead in the
           polls"; "way out front in the race"; "the advertising
           campaign put them out front in sales" [syn: ahead, {out
           front}]