Turfway Park: Baby Max wins by 2 1/2 lengths in Leonatus

J S Stables’ improving 3-year-old colt Baby Max scored his first career stakes victory Saturday night, kicking clear by an emphatic 2 1/2 lengths to win the 35th running of the $125,000 Leonatus Stakes at Turfway Park.

Trained by Kelsey Danner and ridden by Abel Cedillo, Baby Max covered the one-mile distance in 1:40.11 on the Tapeta synthetic surface while earning a career-best 86 Brisnet Speed Rating.

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The Leonatus began with long shot Shan hustling to the lead, setting an opening quarter-mile in 24.88 seconds and maintaining an unchallenged advantage through a half-mile in 50.01 seconds. Baby Max tracked his every move while in third and began to make his run at the long-shot leader entering the far turn. At the top of the lane Baby Max collared Shan and began to draw clear in mid-stretch.

Inside the eighth pole Baby Max kept his clear advantage while Chunk of Gold, who was last early, stormed home late to finish second over tiring Shan. They were followed in order by Church and State, Up to No Good, Hard as Life, Banks and Can’t Deny It.

At odds of 5-1, Baby Max rewarded his backers by paying $2 mutuel returns of $13.08, $5.78 and $3.58.

The victory improved Baby Max’s record to 4: 2-1-0 with earnings of $147,151. Baby Max is a 3-year-old son of Maximus Mischief out of the Lemon Drop Kid mare Lemon Gal. He was bred in Kentucky by Westbrook Stables.

The Leonatus Stakes served as a local steppingstone to the $150,000 John Battaglia Memorial, a Kentucky Derby 2025 points prep scheduled for Feb. 22.