Hogy earns biggest payday of career in Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint

In his first try since being claimed for $80,000 at Saratoga last month, 8-year-old gelding Hogy earned the biggest payday of his life while winning the Grade 3, $400,000 Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint by a half-length over Commend. Hogy completed 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:16.88, just off the course record of 1:16.51.

 

Hogy relaxed toward the real of a tightly bunched field early under jockey Florent Geroux, as longshot Indy Hill set early fractions of 23.87 and 48.37 seconds. Coming out of the sweeping bend that makes up the first half-mile of the 6 ½-furlong distance, Hogy fanned five-wide and took aim on the leaders. Indy Hill held a one-length lead into the stretch before ceding to Commend approaching the eighth-pole. Hogy, however, was finding his best stride outside and hit the front in the final sixteenth, fending off both Commend and a final surge from millionaire Group 1 winner Undrafted, who was a nose back in third.

 

Winning trainer Mike Maker had long been a fan of Hogy’s and had hoped to claim the gelding earlier this year when he was entered for a tag but scratched.

 

“I’m a novice and I rely on Mike,” said owner Michael Hui of Little Rock, Ark., who has found success in the transportation business. “I asked him if anyone claims an 8-year-old horse for 80 and Mike’s a man of few words but he just said, ‘I like him,’ and that was really all I needed to hear. I have a lot of faith in my trainer.”

 

Pacesetter Indy Hill held on for fourth, followed by Crewman, Bondurant, Dimension, Wyeth, Mikes the Man and Black Bear. Tell All You Know was scratched.