Kentucky Downs: Annapolis, Atone, Stitched lead Mint Millions

Saturday's 11-race card at Kentucky Downs features the Grade 3, $1 million Mint Millions, going a mile on the turf. It is one of three stakes on the second day of the six-day meet.

The card also includes the $600,000 Music City (G3) for 3-year-old filly sprinters going 6 1/2 furlongs and the $600,000 Gun Runner for 3-year-olds at a mile.

The Mint Millions offers a $1 million purse supplement for Kentucky-bred horses, and the Music City and Gun Runner each have $400,000 available only to horses bred in the Bluegrass state.

A capacity field of 12 older horses was entered in the Mint Millions, with California-based multiple graded-stakes winner Cabo Spirit expected to scratch out of Thursday’s opening-day Tapit Stakes to run in the Mint Millions. The race also attracted the entry of Group 1-placed Ancient Rome, trained in England by Charlie Hills with jockey Jamie Spencer named to ride.

Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher entered Annapolis, winner of last year’s Keeneland Turf Mile (G1) against older horses, in what would be a three-week turnaround from the colt’s close second in Saratoga’s Fourstardave (G1).

Among the favorites for the Mint Millions figures to be the Greg Foley-trained Stitched, winner of the Wise Dan (G2) at Ellis Park.

Kentucky Downs’ all-time leading trainer Mike Maker, who finished 1-2 in last year’s edition with Somelikeithotbrown and Atone, brings back Atone and adds Max K. O.

Atone kicked off his 6-year-old season with a victory in Gulfstream Park’s Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1). Most recently he faded to last after pushing a strong pace in the 1 1/4-mile Arlington Million (G1) at Colonial Downs, but Maker is never hesitant to wheel back a horse who is doing well.

The 7-year-old Max K. O. is 2-for-2 at Kentucky Downs, but neither of those starts came against stakes company. The 12-time winner most recently was sixth, beaten a total of three lengths, in the Kentucky Downs Preview Mint Millions at Ellis Park.

Winning the Ellis Park prep to earn a fees-paid berth in the Mint Millions was the Rodolphe Brisset-trained Hozier, who in his prior start was a very good fourth in the Wise Dan.

At age 8, Gray’s Fable is back for another crack at the Mint Millions. The gelding finished a close fifth last year race after winning the prep race at Ellis Park. He returned to the Kentucky Downs Preview Mint Millions four weeks ago, rallying to finish fourth but beaten 1 1/4 lengths.

“Hopefully he breaks a lot better, because that’s where he’s been getting in a tangle at the gate,” said trainer Brian Lynch. “But his (handicapping) numbers have been good and he’s been running great. But he’s just a horse that seems to have some little gate issues. Hopefully if he ever gets a clean break and a clean trip there will be a big difference.”

Others entered in the Mint Millions are Grade 1 winner Get Her Number, Saratoga’s Lure winner Smokin’ T, Canadian-based Churchtown and Dhabab.

The Mint Millions is carded as the 10th race, with an approximate post of 6:28 p.m. EDT. First post is 2:30 p.m. EDT.

The Music City, race 9, 5:54 p.m. EDT, at 6 1/2 furlongs drew a full field of 12 plus the maximum four also-eligibles.

The Kelsey Danner-trained Danse Macabre, winner of last year’s Untapable, returns to the site of her most lucrative victory. The daughter of Army Mule comes into the Music City with a 7: 4-2-1 mark, including being 2-for-2 as a 3-year-old after Gulfstream Park’s Herecomesthebride (G3) and Churchill Downs’ Mamzelle.

She takes on Mammas Girl, a Group 3 winner in England, as well as stakes winners L J’s Emma, American Apple, Queen Picasso, Mohawk Trail, Malley Moo, Jill Jitterbug and Determined Jester. Secret Money, not yet a stakes winner, was a good third in her last start in Saratoga’s Lake Placid (G3).

The Todd Pletcher-trained Major Dude, winner of the Penn Mile (G2) and two other graded stakes, leads a field of 10 for the Gun Runner, race 8, 5:21 p.m. EDT. Brad Cox entered Godolphin’s Wadsworth, winner of the American Derby and Ellis Park’s Kentucky Downs Preview Dueling Grounds Derby. Others entered are UAE 2000 Guineas (G3) winner Tall Boy, stakes winners Gaslight Dancer and Talk of the Nation, Georgie W, Highway Robber, Smokey Mandate, Escape Artist and Communication Memo.