Street Beast is just that in Leonatus
Turfway Park stakes recap by publicist Kevin Kerstein (Coady Media/Devin Hall photo of Street Beast winning the Leonatus under Luan Machado)
FLORENCE, Ky. (Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026) – Midway Racing’s Street Beast kicked off his 3-year-old season with an impressive gate-to-wire victory in Saturday night’s 36th running of the $124,835 Leonatus Stakes at Turfway Park Racing & Gaming.
Ridden by Luan Machado for trainer Ben Colebrook, the Leonatus was Street Beast’s third victory from just five starts and second stakes victory after winning Kentucky Downs’ $1 million Global Tote Juvenile Mile (Listed) as a 2-year-old. Street Beast finished fourth in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf in his next start.
Street Beast broke from the outside post in the field of eight 3-year-olds and Machado quickly established the lead while crossing over to the rail midway through the clubhouse turn. Following an opening quarter-mile in :24.15, Street Beast opened up 1 ½ lengths on his closest competitors and cruised a half-mile in :48.54. Around the far turn, several closers attempted to cut into Street Beast’s margin, including 6-5 favorite Fulleffort. In deep stretch, Street Beast was able to hold off Fulleffort’s late charge for a one-length victory while completing a mile in 1:40.57.
It was two lengths back to Jutland in third. He was followed by Valiant, Great White, Reb Five, I Did I Did and Brazilian Conexao.
With his victory in the Leonatus, Street Beast earned his connections $75,140 and boosted his overall purse earnings to $885,784.
Street Beast is a son of 2007 Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense out of the Duke of Marmalade (IRE) mare Flower Party (IRE). He was bred in Kentucky by Sunnybrook Stables. He started his career with a second at Ellis Park, followed by winning a $250,000 Kentucky Downs allowance race for horses who went through the auction ring at the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale and 10 days later winning the stakes.
Street Beast failed to meet his consignor’s reserve sales price with a top bid of $90,000 at Keeneland’s September sale, then was sold for $85,000 at the OBS April 2-year-old sale.
The Leonatus serves as the local prep toward the Feb. 21 $175,000 John Battaglia Memorial (Listed) and March 21, $777,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (GIII), both on the Road to the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve. The series produced 80-1 Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike in 2022, with that colt third in the Leonatus and Jeff Ruby and fourth in the Battaglia.
Live racing will resume Wednesday through Saturday at Turfway Park with daily first posts of 5:55 p.m. ET. For the latest information about racing and gaming, visitwww.turfway.com.
