Ramseys, Maker Send Trio to Breeders' Cup

 

Trainer Mike Maker’s trio of Breeders’ Cup hopefuls – International Star (Juvenile Turf), Thank You Marylou (Filly & Mare Sprint) and Vicar’s in Trouble (Dirt Mile) – are scheduled to depart Louisville for Southern California on Saturday. All owned by Ken and Sarah Ramsey.

 

Maker has secured Hall of Fame rider John Velazquez to ride all three mounts.

 

International Star is coming off a victory in the Oct. 5 Grey (Grade III) at Woodbine on the synthetic Polytrack surface, and Maker thinks going back to turf should be no problem for the 2-year-old son of Fusaichi Pegasus.

 

“I’m not concerned about the turf,” Maker said. “It should be a harder turf course so no worries there. He’s shown up in every race and I look forward to him doing that next weekend, too.”

 

International Star took his maiden debut on turf at Belmont and finished second on turf in the Aug. 22 With Anticipation (GII) at Saratoga.

 

Thank You Marylou, third in the Raven Run (GII) at Keeneland on Oct. 18, will face older fillies and mares for the first time in the Filly & Mare Sprint, and Maker thinks she needs an outside post position to be at her best. She broke from the inside post position one in the Raven Run.

 

“She came out of the last race fine,” Maker said. “She got stuck on the inside in that last one and she runs a lot better with an outside post position, so hopefully we can get lucky with the draw and be in good shape.”

 

Thank You Marylou was a 6 ½-length winner in the Dogwood (GIII) at Churchill Downs prior to the Raven Run, where she broke from the six-hole in the seven-horse field.

 

Vicar’s In Trouble is coming off a runner-up effort in the Oct. 4 Indiana Derby (GII) in his last outing, and also will face older horses for the first time in the Dirt Mile.

 

“It’s always tough taking on older horses for the first time,” Maker said. “But then again, he runs his race every time so we figured we’d give him a shot.”

 

Vicar’s In Trouble has won four of 10 starts and earned $1,228,292.

 

Source: Churchill Downs Barn Notes