Maker’s Mark Mile: Carl Spackler masters Keeneland again

Carl Spackler returned to the races in style with a 4 1/4-length victory over Integration in the 37th running of the Grade 1 $650,000 Maker’s Mark Mile for 4-year-olds and up on a chilly Friday afternoon. The margin of victory was the largest in the history of the race, first run in 1989.

Jockey Flavien Prat cut Carl Spackler loose on the final turn. He swept past three runners to quickly open a daylight advantage and cruised to his third Grade 1 victory.

“He went a little quicker than I was expecting, to be honest,” said Prat, who was substituting because Tyler Gaffalione has a broken ankle. “I was traveling well, and I thought the leader kind of had an easy lead, so I tipped him out just to make sure I could get myself going, and that’s when he really jumped on the bridle. Turning for home I thought maybe I moved too soon, but he was just that good.”

Owned by e5 Racing Thoroughbreds and trained by Chad Brown, Carl Spackler was the 4-5 favorite, and he completed the mile with a time of 1:36.56 over a turf course rated good. It was the second victory in the race for both Brown and Prat. Brown saddled Raging Bull in 2021. Prat, racing on Carl Spackler for the first time, rode Chez Pierre in 2023.

Northern Invader raced to an early lead with fractions of 23.67 and 48.06 seconds with Silent Heart and Funtastic Again in closest pursuit and Carl Spackler racing fourth and in the clear.

Going into the second turn, Carl Spackler quickly began picking off horses, and the race soon became a one-horse race to the finish.

Making his first start since finishing sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Mile in November at Del Mar, Carl Spackler kept his Keeneland record perfect, having taken the Coolmore Turf Mile (G1) during the fall.

Carl Spackler joined Wise Dan in 2012 and 2013 and Perfect Soul in 2003 and 2004 as the only horses to win the Turf Mile and come back the following spring to win this race.

With the performance, e5 earned a Keeneland tray to recognize its eighth graded-stakes win at the track.

“It has been unbelievable,” owner Bob Edwards said. “Chad and his crew have done a great job conditioning him and getting him ready. He’s a homebred, which is spectacular for us, and obviously a family favorite. And having Flavien catch the mount because Tyler is out, it makes it all worthwhile.”

Now a six-time graded-stakes winner, Carl Spackler is a 5-year-old son of Lope de Vega out of More Than Ready mare Zindaya. Now 12: 8-1-0, he picked up $302,250 for Friday’s victory to increase his earnings to $1,910,725.

Carl Spackler returned $3.66, $2.70 and $2.12. Integration, ridden by Frankie Dettori, returned $3.32 and $2.46 and finished 1 1/2 lengths in front of Trikari, who paid $2.98 to show under John Velazquez. It was another head back to Northern Invader, who was followed in order by Grand Aspen, Funtastic Again and Silent Heart.