Maximum Promise Makes Easy Work of Ellis MSW

Making his dirt debut in his second start, Maximum Promise (2c Maximum Security x Paixao, by Scat Daddy) broke his maiden in a big way Saturday at Ellis Park.

Racing one mile on the dirt in the Maiden Special Weight, Maximum Promise was the first out of the gate and spent the first few furlongs dueling for the lead. Once they were about halfway down the backstretch, Maximum Promise started putting a little distance between himself and the other horses.

By the time they hit the turn, it was clear Maximum Promise still had plenty left as he built his lead in the final two furlongs. It was the easiest of stretch runs for Brian Hernandez Jr., who didn’t have to do much with his mount to win by an eased down 14 ½ lengths.

Trained by Kenny McPeek for Back Racing and Run for LaRoses, the colt is a Don Alberto bred.

He is out of the Scat Daddy mare Paixao, who is a half-sister to Spain’s Horse of the Year Naranco and one other winner out of Patsy Boyne. Patsy Boyne is a three-quarter sister to champion High Chaparral, Group II winner and Group I placed Black Bear Island, and the stakes placed Helena Molony.

Those under Maximum Promise’s second dam also include dual Group I winner Fancy Blue and Group II winner Hunting Horn.

This is the fourth winner for champion Maximum Security, putting him seventh among all freshmen sires, tied alongside four-time Grade I winning studmate Tiz The Law and Grade I winning studmate Echo Town.