Fifteen-year old Patrick (Zac Efron) doesn't know what he wants to do with his life, and the pressure put on him by his dad, an ex-professional baseball player, isn't helping. Then Patrick meets Houston Jones (Bill Cobbs, Night at the Museum), a misunderstood horse trainer who convinces him to train for the famous Derby Cup. But can Patrick convince his parents to let him compete, beat out the rich town bully--a five-time Derby Cup winner who will stop at nothing to keep his title--and somehow find the champion that lies within?