BLAME 3-year-old Epic Ride made sure he was in contention from the start of the Leonatus Stakes on Friday when romping to a four-length victory in his stakes debut.
The one-mile race at Turfway Park saw Epic Ride duel straight from the gate with another runner having a slight advantage early. The duel continued until the far turn when Adam Beschizza let his mount out just a notch and Epic Ride bolted away.
Beschizza looked confident in the stretch and there was no reason not to be with Epic Ride building up his margin with every stride for Welch Racing, having four lengths on the field in the end.
Trained by John Ennis and bred by Fred Hertrich III, Epic Ride has won two of his three starts with his debut in December seeing him finish a close second as well.
A $160,000 Keeneland September Yearling purchase by his racing owner from Taylor Made Sales, the colt is the second out of Gio Ponti mare Pick a Time.
That mare is a half-sister to Grade 2 winner Miss Dracarys and stakes winners Aristocratic and Up The Ante. Another one of her half-sisters produced stakes winner Orbs Baby Girl as well. The family also includes dual Grade 1 winner Honey Ryder, Grade 2 winner Dominus, and Grade 3 winner Cuando Puede and Hit It Rich among others.
Epic Ride is the 46th stakes winner and 84th stakes performer for BLAME, putting him 18th on the Lifetime Active Sires list by stakes winners and 20th by stakes performers.