Film Maker overcomes layoff in Gallorette

Trainer Graham Motion was pleasantly surprised that owner Don Adam decided to bring Film Maker back to the races this year for a 5-year-old campaign. She was already a Grade 1 winner and had finished second to the champion Ouija Board in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf.

"A lot of these fillies, when they get older their value becomes so great they don't keep them in training, and I think it's a credit to Mr. Adam that he kept her in training another year,'' said Motion, who celebrated his 41st birthday a day early.

Motion showed how grateful he was by having Film Maker ready to fire off a six-month layoff. After having some difficulty negotiating the tight turns on the Pimlico turf course, Film Maker exploded through the stretch to win the Grade 3, $100,000 by a neck over Briviesca. It was three-quarters of a length back to Humoristic in third.

The victory was Film Maker's sixth from 17 career starts and the $60,000 first-place purse brought her career earnings to $990,290.

Jerry Bailey was aboard Film Maker for the first time and felt the mare wasn't running that well around the turn. He tucked her in behind Art Fan until upper stretch before taking her out for the final furlong. Film Maker outkicked Briviesca, who split horses in deep stretch. Film Maker covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.29 over a good turf course and returned $6.40 as the favorite.

"Not having a lot of acceleration on the turn, I didn't know what to expect through the stretch, but I was pleasantly surprised," Bailey said. "Graham had her ready."

Motion said he would point Film Maker to the Grade 2, $250,000 New York Handicap at Belmont Park on July 2.