Max the Knife made his Churchill Downs debut a winning one when the 3-year-old son of Unforgettable Max won a seven-furlong starter allowance race by one length on May 27.

This was also the first time the bay colt had raced on a traditional dirt surface after making all his previous starts at either Keeneland or Turfway over the Polytrack. Unhurried early in the race, Max the Knife was in last until late in the turn, when he went four wide to move all the way to the lead in the matter of an 1/8-mile. Though he did get some pressure in mid-stretch, he was only under mild urging to hold the lead to the wire.

Unforgettable Max is a half-brother to champion and dual classic winner Afleet Alex; his first crop of foals are 3-year-olds of 2010.

Max the Knife is out of the winning mare Smartenclassy, who has already produced three winners, including the stakes-placed Rogue Scholar, who earned $354,777.