Maker going from strength to strength in Kentucky Turf Cup

With Kentucky Downs in session and the Keeneland yearling sale starting Monday in Lexington, Ky., horse trainers and their automobiles will be in continuous motion over the next couple of weeks.

Few will be busier than Mike Maker. The two-time defending champion trainer at Kentucky Downs, he makes Louisville his home base, but his Lexus SUV will be hurtling up and down Interstates 65 and 64 as he looks to further his name with current and future trainees.

“It’s that time of year,” said Maker, the leading trainer each of the last two years at Kentucky Downs in south-central Kentucky.

Over the two cards that open the five-day Kentucky Downs meet, Maker had 18 entries (nine for both Wednesday and Thursday), including top contenders in most of the stakes. But the stable muscles will really start to flex Saturday, when the richest race of the meet, the $600,000 Kentucky Turf Cup, highlights a card that will include three other stakes, each worth at least $350,000. (All non-claiming/starter races at Kentucky Downs include substantial bonuses restricted to registered Kentucky-bred horses.)

Maker intended to enter four older horses for the Grade 3 Turf Cup, including Oscar Nominated, who also is entered in the Old Friends Stakes on Thursday. His other prospects for the 1 1/2-mile Turf Cup are Bigger Picture, Taghleeb, and Enterprising. Of those, Bigger Picture looms largest following a victory in the Grade 1 United Nations and in-money finishes in the Grade 2 Bowling Green and Grade 1 Sword Dancer for owner Three Diamonds Farm.

“We’ve had the Turf Cup in mind for him for quite a while,” Maker said.

Entries for Saturday were to be drawn Tuesday.

Maker won the Turf Cup the last two years with Da Big Hoss, one of the greatest claims in racing history. The 6-year-old gelding has been hampered this year by an ankle injury that did not require surgery, and owner Harvey Diamond and partners are looking for him to return to training soon.