The curse of Apollo was lifted four years ago. But the curse of Leonatus endures. Until Justify came along and won the Kentucky Derby in 2018, no horse had won the race without having competed as a 2-year-old since Apollo in 1882. Leonatus, who won the Derby in 1883, largely has been forgotten to history, even though his record on the track and at stud are terrific. But Leonatus will be getting his time in the spotlight in coming weeks. He is the last – actually the only – horse to have won the Derby in only his third career start. That’s the feat Taiba will try to equal after his victory last Saturday in the Santa Anita Derby in only his second career start. Taiba, who won a maiden sprint at Santa Anita in his career debut March 5, won the Santa Anita Derby in a powerhouse performance, downing stablemate Messier while earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 102, equal to that of Epicenter in the Louisiana Derby. In four weeks, Taiba will go from a six-horse field in the Santa Anita Derby to a 20-horse field in the Kentucky Derby, surrendering experience in terms of numbers of races and field size to his competitors. He also will be trying to buck 139 years of history. Trying to confirm details of something so long ago is challenging in this sport, but, fortunately, the Keeneland Library has an extensive catalog of periodicals from that era, and, via library director Becky Ryder, was able to flesh out the details of Leonatus’s career. According to Krik’s Guide to the Turf – akin to the modern-day American Racing Manual – and from the years 1882 and 1883, Leonatus finished second in his lone start at age 2 in 1882. So while Taiba will be trying to win the Derby in his third career start, similar to Leonatus, Taiba will be trying to become the first horse to win the Derby in his third career start but without having raced as a 2-year-old. Leonatus made his 3-year-old debut on May 12, 1883, at the Kentucky Association track, winning the Blue Ribbon Stakes. Eleven days later, in his third career start, Leonatus won the ninth running of the Kentucky Derby. The 1883 Derby, like the earliest editions of the Derby, was at 1 1/2 miles. Leonatus, carrying co-highweight of 105 pounds in a field of seven, according to the race chart, broke second and then was in front after a quarter-mile, and every step thereafter. He crossed the wire three lengths to the best of Drake Carter, whose trainer, Green Morris, trained Apollo to a Derby win the previous year. Racing over a track rated heavy, Leonatus was timed in 2:43. He went off at just shy of 2-1, and paid $14.80 for every $5 – yes $5 – minimum wager. First prize was $3,760. In 2022 dollars, the $5 minimum bet would be $142, and the winner’s share of $3,760 would be slightly more than $107,000. According to the publication Spirit of the Times, also via the Keeneland Library, its June 2, 1883, edition said that “since the inauguration of the now-celebrated event no Derby victory has been more popular than that of the bay son of Longfellow.” Leonatus was by the top sire Longfellow out of the unraced Phaeton mare Semper Felix. Longfellow, who raced in the early 1870s, won 13 of 16 starts, became a successful stallion – he also sired 1890 Derby winner Riley – and was elected to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1971. Longfellow was “a horse whose racing prowess once filled the land with admiration,” according to the Spirit of the Times. “Since the days of Lexington, no horse has occupied a place nearer the Kentucky heart than the mammoth brown son of Leamington.” :: KENTUCKY DERBY 2022: Derby Watch, point standings, prep schedule, news, and more Leonatus was bred in Kentucky by John Henry Miller. He was owned by Jack Chinn and George Morgan, who bought him unraced for $5,000 – the equivalent of just shy of $150,000 today. He was trained for the Derby by John McGinty. McGinty was described in Spirit of the Times as “a most capable and painstaking man.” “And though it was feared that the colt had not been doing enough, his condition on Derby day was near perfection,” the Spirit of the Times wrote. Leonatus was ridden in the Derby by William “Billy” Donohue, age 29 at the time. Leonatus wasn’t done after starting the year with those two victories. He raced eight more times, winning all of them, all stakes, including the Illinois Derby. He was retired with a record of 10 wins in 11 starts and purse earnings of $21,435, the equivalent of a little more than $610,000 today. He then went to stud in Kentucky and died in 1898, at age 18. And now, thanks to Taiba, he’s back.