Turfway Park: Epic Ride dominates in Leonatus Stakes triumph

Epic Ride led at every call on his way to winning by a widening four lengths Friday night in the $125,000 Leonatus Stakes for 3-year-olds going a two-turn mile on the synthetic track at Turfway Park.

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It was the second consecutive victory for the $160,000 Blame colt owned by Welch Racing and trained by John Ennis. Ridden by his regular rider Adam Beschizza, Epic Ride (8-5) dueled early with post-time favorite Vote No (6-5), who gave way in the second turn.

Epic Ride drifted outward in the homestretch, but by then he was two lengths clear of the field. Beschizza steered him back inward as he lengthened his lead crossing the wire.

Blue Eyed George (6-1) closed late to finish second, 1 3/4 lengths down the track from third-place Good Bali (22-1). Salvattore Prince (7-2) finished fourth, Vote No took fifth, and Bettering (50-1) was a never-threatening last in the field of six.

Awesome Road and Mugatu were scratched by their trainers.

Epic Ride had a winning time of 1:39.24 after his early fractions of 24.63, 48.76 and 1:13.59. He paid $5.56, $4.28 and $2.68; Blue Eyed George $6.12 and $4.36; and Good Bali $6.20.

The $76,005 first-place prize boosted Epic Ride’s career earnings to $130,517 from a record of 3: 2-1-0, all at Turfway. The colt’s only loss was by a neck in his Dec. 8 debut. He broke his maiden Jan. 5 with a five-length win going furlongs.