Butler's big week continues with My Mane Squeeze in the Eight Belles

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Owner and breeder William Butler won a maiden $30,000 claiming race Sunday at Aqueduct with the 3-year-old Mama’s Dream and he thought that was going to be the highlight of his week.

Actually, it was just a preview of what was to come.

Thursday, at Aqueduct, Butler won the $100,000 Affirmed Success for New York-breds at Aqueduct with Rotknee. Friday, at Churchill Downs, My Mane Squeeze, the 3-year-old younger sister of Rotknee, splashed her way to a two-length victory in the Grade 2, $600,000 Eight Belles Stakes. All three of those horses are trained by Mike Maker.

“Mike said I’m having a hell of a week here,” Butler said in the Churchill winner’s circle. “I said ‘the one we won with on Sunday won and got claimed and I thought that was going to be the high of the week.’ ”

My Mane Squeeze, like half of the 3-year-old fillies in the seven-furlong Eight Belles, was cutting back in distance after failing to perform well in a two-turn race with the hopes of making the Kentucky Oaks. My Mane Squeeze had won her three previous one-turn starts, all against New York-breds.

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Butler sold a half-interest in My Mane Squeeze to WinStar Farm after the Maddie May Stakes in February. On March 30, My Mane Squeeze finished eighth as the 2-1 favorite in the Grade 2 Fantasy going 1 1/16 miles at Oaklawn Park.

Maker felt there were multiple possible reasons for the filly’s effort that day. She was bad in the paddock and unruly in the gate, perhaps due to horsing, and she seemed rattled by the people in the infield.

“That just wasn’t her,” Maker said.

On Friday, Maker said My Mane Squeeze was better behaved in the paddock and seemed fine in the gate.

“The way she broke, I said ‘we’ll see if she’s good enough,’ “ Maker said.

Under Luis Saez, My Mane Squeeze was a joint fourth outside of Impel down the backside as Asternia set fractions of 22.46 seconds for the quarter and 44.23 while stalked by Halina’s Forte, with R Harper Rose outside of them.

My Mane Squeeze moved to third after the half, joined the leaders turning for home, and took command just above the eighth pole. My Mane Squeeze, a daughter of Audible out of the mare In Spite of Mama, covered the seven furlongs in 1:22.85 over the sloppy track and returned $15.84 to win.

My Mane Squeeze was assigned a career-best 96 Beyer Speed Figure.

Impel, coming out of a third in the Grade 1 Ashland, finished second, 4 1/4 lengths in front of Asternia. Halina’s Forte finished fourth and was followed by Do Gooder, Lady Moscato, Denim and Pearls - the 4-5 favorite - Accommodate Eva, Tanya Showers, All Things Go, and R Harper Rose.

“I thought it was ultra impressive,” Maker said. “I thought [Impel and Denim and Pearls] were two very good fillies.”

Impel and Denim and Pearls - the latter coming off a dominant victory in the Beaumont at Keeneland last month – are both trained by Brad Cox.

Cox felt Impel ran well to be second and it looks like her future will be in one-turn races. Cox said that he may have run Denim and Pearls back too quick off the 98 Beyer Speed Figure she ran in the Beaumont.

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“Offered a little run at the three-eighths, didn’t last that long, and just kind of flattened fairly quickly,” Cox said of Denim and Pearls. “Maybe run back too fast, not sure she liked the wet track, we’ll regroup.”

Since he felt My Mane Squeeze had an excuse in her lone two-turn try in the Fantasy, Maker said he would likely give her another shot going long, perhaps in the Grade 1, $500,000 Acorn at 1 1/8 miles on June 7 at Saratoga.

Asked about trying My Mane Squeeze 1 1/8 miles, Maker said, “I’m not worried about it.”

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