Ivar, Somelikeithotbrown, Public Sector defect from Maker's Mark

Ivar (BRZ), Somelikeithotbrown, and Public Sector (GB) have all scratched from the Grade 1, $600,000 Maker's Mark Mile, leaving a field of eight for the race Friday afternoon at Keeneland.

Morning line favorite Smooth Like Strait (2/1) remains in the field, but all of the scratched horses were expected to take some betting interest. Ivar was 6/1 on the morning line, Somelikeithotbrown was 12/1 and Public Sector was 8/1. All three of the scratched horses are graded stakes winners as well. Ivar is a Grade 1 winner at Keeneland, having won the 2020 Shadwell Turf Mile. Somelikeithotbrown and Public Sector are both multiple Grade 2 winners, though neither had previously won at Keeneland.

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The scratched horses have something else in common as well: they each have an uncoupled stablemate who remains in the race.

In Love (10/1) is trained by Paulo Lobo and owned by a partnership of Bonne Chance Farm and Stud R D I, identically to Ivar. In Love upset the 2021 Keeneland Turf Mile (G1) last time he raced in Lexington, and will make his first start since a seventh-place finish behind Space Blues in the Breeders' Cup Mile.

In addition to the scratched Somelikeithotbrown, owned by a partnership between Skychai Racing and Sand Dollar Stable, Mike Maker also trains Atone (12/1) for Three Diamonds Farm. Atone has yet to win in graded stakes company, though he finished second in the Fort Lauderdale (G2) at Gulfstream Park on Dec. 18. He finished fourth beaten 1 3/4 lengths behind Colonel Liam in his most recent start, which came in the Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1).

Juddmonte homebred Masen (5/1) remains for trainer Chad Brown, who also trains Public Sector for longtime client Klaravich Stables. Masen makes his United States debut in the Maker's Mark Mile after six starts in Ireland. His most recent start was a victory in the Knockaire Stakes at Leopardstown on Oct. 23. Masen has yet to win a graded stakes, though he finished third beaten 3/4 length by Military Style in the Tyros (G3) at Leopardstown on Aug. 6, 2020.

The Maker's Mark Mile is scheduled as Friday's ninth race at Keeneland, with a post time of 5:16 p.m. EDT.