Munnings’ Late September Registers First Stakes Victory

One race after traveling to Royal Ascot, Munnings juvenile Late September (2c Munnings x Hello Maggie May, by Lemon Drop Kid) earned his first stakes victory in the Louisiana Legacy Stakes.

The colt raced just under five lengths off the leader early in the seven-furlong race before throwing down his challenge as they hit the second turn. It didn’t take the race favorite long to get the lead and down the stretch jockey Jose Rodriguez kept him focused on his task for a one length win with the rest of the field 6 ¾ lengths behind him.

Trained by Jose Camejo for Kevin Stedman, it was the second win in four starts for the bay, who broke his maiden at Churchill Downs in May.

He is out of the multiple stakes winning Lemon Drop Kid mare Hello Maggie May, who also produced Grade III-placed Malloy. The mare herself is a daughter of multiple stakes winner Fantast Lake, who produced stakes winner South Bay Cove and Group III-placed Art Market. South Bay Cove produced multiple Grade III winner Free Judgement with another half-sister producing stakes winner Crumlin Spirit.

Munnings’ 14 stakes winners in 2022 is second best among all stallions with the stallion having just over half the runners of the leading Into Mischief. The group is led by the multiple Grade I-winning Jack Christopher, who is headed to the Breeders’ Cup early next month.