Kentucky Derby Road: Jan. 18 LeComte Stakes, Leonatus Stakes

LeComte Stakes, 1 1/16 Mile at Fair Grounds
Favored at 9-5 in a 13-horse field, Disco Time and Florent Geroux broke from the far outside post, were bumped early, came from 10 1/4 lengths off the early pace, and went eight wide into the stretch on a sloppy-sealed track to win the Lecomte by a neck over 5-2 second choice Built. Innovator broke best from post 1, moved away from the rail, and led the field through fractions of 23.68, 47.91 and 1:13.38. In mid-stretch Innovator held a 2 1/2-length lead before giving way to hang on for third. Golden Afternoon and Maximum Promise were fourth and fifth. Disco Time earned 20 Kentucky Derby points, which were distributed 10-4-2-1 to the other four.

Disco Time overcame adversity, but the time for 1 1/6 mile was slow, 1:47.07. Was the track that tiring? The Silverbulletday for 3-year-old fillies, won by Simply Joking, was timed in 1:44.30 going a mile and 70 yards. She was given a 91 Equibase figure. Hit Show (104 Equibase) won the G3 Louisiana Stakes at the LeComte distance in 1:44.91, over 10 lengths faster. The winner of the Leonatus Stakes at Turfway (see below) got a 95. Disco Time was given an Equibase speed rating of 84.

Brad Cox trains Disco Time for Juddmonte and mentioned the Risen Star as the next step. From BloodHorse: Bred in Kentucky by Juddmonte out of the multiple stakes-winning Jump Start mare Disco Chick, Disco Time is a son of Not This Time. Sire of graded stakes winners Next and Cogburn, among other talented runners, Not This Time finished 2024 as the 13th-ranked stallion.

Winning trainer Brad Cox: “I did think he would be a little bit closer, but it looked like he was traveling well enough and there was a two or three length gap between him and the horses in front of him so I was hoping he would stay clean and on the outside. Florent did a good job of not pushing the button and overreacting and the horse finished up well. An easier trip wouldn’t have been as taxing on him. When they’re able to sit and maybe run the last 3/8ths of a mile as opposed to breaking on top and running the entire way.”

Winning jockey Florent Geroux: “That wasn’t the way we drew it up before the race. But he broke ok, and from there I saw a lot of horses going at it, so I just tucked in. I was able to save a lot of going into the first turn, which was important given the tough post we had. From there he relaxed beautifully for me and took the kickback very well. I didn’t feel like I was behind horses who were traveling great and felt like they were going to back up at me.... I feel like I gave some ground to the runner-up (Built) who had a little bit of a better trip than mine...."

Jareth Loveberry, jockey of runner-up Built: “We got a really good trip, he just didn’t quite handle the track as well. He just kept fighting through the mud, fighting through the mud. To run a second like that, given the way he handled the track, he ran a good race, even in defeat.”

Jamie Torres, jockey of third-place finisher Innovator: “If he can learn to relax more at the beginning, they won’t be able to get him. I could have had a ton of horse at the end if he would have relaxed. I don’t think getting the distance is a problem at all. It was just his first time going two turns."

Nick Vaccarezza, trainer of fourth-place finisher Golden Afternoon: “It was a good race. I’m proud of him. He was kind of even at the end. We’ll never know how it would have been with a fast track. I think maybe the grass will be his best surface, possibly targeting the American Derby.”

Axel Concepcion, jockey of fourth-place finisher Golden Afternoon: “I broke good and he put me in a really good position. I think he’s a nice horse. I think he handled the off track really well. He showed today that he has a lot of heart.”


Leonatus Stakes, One Mile at Turfway Park
Baby Max drew clear by 2 1/2 lengths to win the 35th running of the $125,000 Leonatus Stakes at Turfway Park. Owned by J S Stables, trained by Kelsey Danner and ridden by Abel Cedillo, Baby Max covered a mile on sythetic track in 1:40.11 while earning a career-best 86 Brisnet Speed Rating.

Shan put together moderate-to-slow fractions of 24.88 and 50.01 to lead the way early. Baby Max tracked in third before making his move entering the far turn. At the top of the lane Baby Max collared Shan. Chunk of Gold, who was last early, stormed home late to finish second by another 3 3/4 lengths over a tiring Shan. They were followed in order by Church and State, Up to No Good, Hard as Life, 2-1 favorite Banks -- who was never involved -- and Can’t Deny It.

Baby Max was 5-1. His record improved to 4-2-1-0. By Maximus Mischief out of the Lemon Drop Kid mare Lemon Gal. Bred in Kentucky by Westbrook Stables.