Lochte ready to take aim at Wise Dan in Maker’s 46 Mile

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Marcus Vitali won a graded race for the first time in a 25-year training career when he sent out Lochte to an $80.60 stunner in the Grade 1 Gulfstream Park Handicap on Feb. 9, Donn Day at Gulfstream.

The tote board might not necessarily agree, but if Lochte can beat Wise Dan in the Grade 1 Maker’s 46 Mile on Friday at Keeneland, that might qualify as an even bigger surprise. Lochte is listed as the co-third-choice at 6-1 behind Wise Dan (2-5), the reigning two-time Horse of the Year, in the Maker’s 46.

“The horse got here last Wednesday [April 2] and has been doing great,” said Vitali. “I don’t know what shot we have, but I do know we’re coming into the race good. I’m happy with the way he’s training, and our whole team is upbeat about it. He’s going to show up.”

◗ Jockey Joel Rosario flew to and from his home country early this week to accept the prestigious honor of 2013 Athlete of the Year in the Dominican Republic. Rosario, who won the Kentucky Derby and Dubai World Cup last year, beat out such star baseball players as David Ortiz, Robinson Cano, and Adrian Beltre for the honor. His photograph at the awards ceremony was splashed across the front page of the sports section of at least three Spanish-language papers, and he told one paper: “This is my best award.”

◗ Keeneland racing officials expect about nine 3-year-old fillies for the Sunday feature, the Grade 2 Beaumont Stakes, with Ready to Act, Richies Party Girl, and Sweet Whiskey the likely favorites. Entries were to be drawn Thursday.

◗ Sunday will feature appearances by some 30 female racing personalities, including retired jockeys Julie Krone and Donna Barton Brothers, as well as a “wear pink” theme in recognition of breast-cancer awareness and research.

◗ Trainer Phil Sims said his stable star, Don’t Tell Sophia, was scheduled to work this weekend after missing time from a quarter crack suffered after her third-place finish in the March 15 Azeri at Oaklawn Park. Sims said the Grade 1 La Troienne on May 2 at Churchill Downs is his next target.

◗ Tickets for $150 each are on sale for the annual Kentucky Derby Trainers’ Dinner at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Louisville on April 29. More information is available at (859) 259-1643.