Maker to 'enter ’em up' with strong Kentucky Downs presence
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Eclipse Sportswire
Mike Maker, Kentucky Downs’ all-time winningest trainer and the four-time defending meet leader, says he’ll run as many horses as he can get in the entries at Kentucky Downs.
Maker's philosophy is to train them as if they’ll be running and hope to get lucky at the entry box. Even though he ran a meet-dominating 44 horses last year, Maker said at the time that he had dozens more that didn't get in with most races overfilling.
Maker's philosophy is to train them as if they’ll be running and hope to get lucky at the entry box. Even though he ran a meet-dominating 44 horses last year, Maker said at the time that he had dozens more that didn't get in with most races overfilling.
“That’s all you can do,” he said. “I’ve got a bunch of 2-year-olds getting ready to run at the same time with turf pedigrees. So enter ’em up and see what happens.”
Maker won nine races last year, four more than runner-up Mark Casse, to bring his track-record victory total to 51.
Among the horses he expects to run this meet are Bigger Picture and Zulu Alpha in the Calumet Farm Kentucky Turf Cup (G3); Saratoga debut winner Are You Kitten Me in the Gainesway Farm Juvenile; Ellis Park maiden-winner Ask Bailey and Gulfstream Park maiden-winner Sunset Promise in the Exacta Systems Juvenile Fillies; and Hembree, an allowance winner at Kentucky Downs last year, in either the Tourist Mile or the Runhappy Turf Sprint (G3).
Among the horses he expects to run this meet are Bigger Picture and Zulu Alpha in the Calumet Farm Kentucky Turf Cup (G3); Saratoga debut winner Are You Kitten Me in the Gainesway Farm Juvenile; Ellis Park maiden-winner Ask Bailey and Gulfstream Park maiden-winner Sunset Promise in the Exacta Systems Juvenile Fillies; and Hembree, an allowance winner at Kentucky Downs last year, in either the Tourist Mile or the Runhappy Turf Sprint (G3).
Bigger Picture prevailed in Keeneland’s Elkhorn (G3) in April but hasn’t run since finishing a close fourth in Monmouth Park’s United Nations on June 22, a Grade 1 stakes the gelding won in 2017. Maker scratched Bigger Picture out of Saratoga’s Bowling Green (G3) after drawing post 13, planning to prep him for Kentucky Downs at Ellis Park.
Bigger Picture also scratched the morning of the Aug. 4 Kentucky Downs Preview Kentucky Turf Cup, this time by a state veterinarian. Maker said he’s not sure the reason but took it in stride, with Bigger Picture last week working five-eighths of a mile in a strong 1:00 3/6 seconds at Churchill Downs’ Trackside satellite training center.
Bigger Picture also scratched the morning of the Aug. 4 Kentucky Downs Preview Kentucky Turf Cup, this time by a state veterinarian. Maker said he’s not sure the reason but took it in stride, with Bigger Picture last week working five-eighths of a mile in a strong 1:00 3/6 seconds at Churchill Downs’ Trackside satellite training center.
“It was one of those things and move forward,” Maker said. “As long as he’s healthy, that’s all I care about.” He said he’s not worried about fitness after missing a race, saying with a laugh, “Not really. He’s 8 years old. If you can’t keep them fit, that’s a pretty bad thing.”
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