Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint: Hembree another reclamation project for Maker

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Highlighted by the success of millionaires Da Big Hoss and Bigger Picture in recent years, Mike Maker has developed a reputation for being a trainer adept at developing claimed horses and turning them into successful turf stayers. Apparently he can train speed into a claimer, too.

For the second straight year, Maker will have a starter in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint with a horse he claimed when Hembree goes in Saturday’s $1 million race. His participation comes a year after Hogy ran 11th at Del Mar in the Turf Sprint for him.

The preps they took to land in the Breeders’ Cup differ. Hogy, claimed for $80,000, won the Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint last year before running second to Bucchero in the Grade 2 Woodford, while Hembree, a $50,000 claim in April, ventured to Canada for his pre-Breeders’ Cup start, closing to win the Grade 1 Nearctic at Woodbine Oct. 13 going three-quarters of a mile on the grass.

This marks the second stint over which Maker has trained Hembree, a 4-year-old Proud Citizen colt who races for Three Diamonds Farm. Previously he started the colt twice for Ken and Sarah Ramsey before the horse was claimed from them for $50,000 at Saratoga in the summer of 2017.

Maker believes Hembree’s accomplishments this year, which include a couple allowance triumphs in addition to the Nearctic, are the result of development and running shorter distances around one turn.

“I never felt he wanted much more ground than a mile,” he said. “A better distance for him is probably between 6 to 7 furlongs.”

He does not get that in the Turf Sprint, even though the race, at 5 ½ furlongs at Churchill, is longer than it was last year, when it was five furlongs at Del Mar.

Tuesday morning he blew out three furlongs in 38.60 seconds at Churchill Downs Trackside, the off-track training center where Maker regularly stables. Then in the hours after his early-morning drill, he vanned over to Churchill Downs, joining stablemates Henley’s Joy and Somelikeithotbrown, who will represent the trainer in the Friday’s Juvenile Turf.

Going a distance a little shorter than what Maker feels is his optimum distance, Hembree will need some breaks to fall his way to score an upset. He is a 20-1 longshot on the morning line under Tyler Gaffalione.

“He drew well, I thought,” Maker said of Hembree securing post 3. “Now we’ll just hope for a hot pace and ground-saving trip.”