Hit the Road points to Shoemaker Mile in May

Hit the Road won the Grade 1 Frank Kilroe Mile at Santa Anita on March 6, but was only fifth in the Grade 1 Maker’s Mark Mile at Keeneland on Friday. The 4-year-old colt will continue his season in top-level races in the $300,000 Shoemaker Mile at Santa Anita on May 31, trainer Dan Blacker said Sunday.

The Shoemaker Mile is the top turf race of the spring portion of the Santa Anita winter-spring meeting, and has long-term ramifications in the division. The winner receives a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Del Mar on Nov. 6.

In the $300,000 Maker’s Mark Mile on a turf course rated good, Hit the Road was the 5-2 favorite on the basis of his win in the Kilroe Mile. Hit the Road was third of nine in the stretch, but faded to finish fifth, 3 3/4 lengths behind race winner Raging Bull.

Raging Bull, a five-time stakes winner who won the 2020 Shoemaker Mile, had his 2021 debut in the Maker’s Mark Mile. Hit the Road carried 123 pounds, three to five pounds more than the other runners because of the recent win in the Kilroe.

“I think too many things didn’t go his way,” Blacker said. “The rain the day before didn’t help. We were giving the winner five pounds. Grade 1s should be equal weights.”