Bigger Picture seeks repeat in John B. Connally Turf Cup

Bigger Picture’s win a year ago in the Grade 3, $200,000 John B. Connally Turf Cup at Sam Houston launched a season in which he won his first Grade 1. He’s back Sunday to defend his title in the 1 1/2-mile turf race that drew a full field of 12 including fellow graded stakes winners Big Bend, Camelot Kitten, and Some in Tieme.

“He obviously ran well there last year, so we just felt it was the best place to get him started,” Mike Maker, who trains Bigger Picture, said on Thursday.

The Connally is one of six stakes worth a cumulative $825,000 on a special Sunday card that begins at 12:10 p.m. Central. The program includes the Grade 3, $400,000 Houston Ladies Classic.

Bigger Picture is the most accomplished member of the Connally field by virtue of his head win in the Grade 1 United Nations on July 1 at Monmouth. For the effort, the horse earned one of his best Beyer Speed Figures, a 103.

“He got a great trip right up the fence and got there in time,” said Maker. “He’s a barn favorite and we were glad to get a Grade 1 with him.”

Bigger Picture could hit another milestone Sunday. He is within a placing of $1 million in earnings, with a bankroll of $981,135. The horse, who races for Three Diamonds Farm, will break from post 9 under Jose Ortiz, who on Thursday night was honored with the Eclipse Award as outstanding jockey of 2017. The Connally will be Bigger Picture’s first start since finishing 12th in the Breeders’ Cup Turf on Nov. 4 at Del Mar.

“Draw a line through it,” Maker said of the form from the Breeders’ Cup, which was a rare off-the-board finish for Bigger Picture.

Bigger Picture had entered the race off a close third in the Grade 1 Sword Dancer at Saratoga in August. Some of his other notable efforts in marathons last year included running second by a neck in the Grade 2 Bowling Green at Saratoga in July and third by 1 1/2 lengths in the Grade 2 Elkhorn in April at Keeneland.

“He’s definitely gotten better as the distances increased, and we expect another big season with him,” said Maker.

Maker has won five of the last six runnings of the Connally. On Sunday, the trainer also will send out Camelot Kitten, a multiple Grade 2 winner who also could go over $1 million in earnings in the race; and Flashy Chelsey, who was fourth in the Grade 3 Sycamore won by Connally rival Big Bend. Last year, Maker starters swept the top three spots in the Connally.

Chicago Style enters Sunday’s race off a runner-up finish in the Hollywood Turf Cup on Nov. 24 at Del Mar. He missed by a neck in the 1 1/2-mile race and for the effort equaled his best Beyer Figure, a 96. Drayden Van Dyke has the mount for Glen Hill Farm and trainer Tom Proctor.

◗ Maker and Ortiz will team up in the $75,000 Turf Sprint with Hogy, an earner of $1.1 million who invades from Gulfstream for owner Michael Hui. Hogy was second in that track’s $75,000 Janus on Jan. 1 and the Beyer Figure of 92 that he earned is the best last-race number in the 12-horse field Sunday.

◗ Maker has three contenders in the $50,000 Houston Distaff, a 1 1/16-mile turf race for fillies and mares. He will send out Susie Bee, Peru, and Rum Go.

◗ The $50,000 Groovy and the $50,000 Bara Lass for fillies cater to 3-year-olds bred in Texas.