Maker has more talented turf marathoners than racing opportunities

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Mike Maker has the kind of problem virtually every trainer would love to have.

The day after Maker won the Grade 3 W.L. McKnight at Gulfstream Park with Taghleeb, his horses ran 1-2-3 in the Grade 3 John B. Connally Turf Cup at Sam Houston. Bigger Picture was followed in the order of finish by Oscar Nominated and Greengrassofyoming.

Those turf-marathon specialists are stablemates of Da Big Hoss, who has earned nearly $1.5 million while competing primarily in turf marathons since being claimed in June 2015.

“Where do they all run back?” Maker asked. “That’s a good question. We were just trying to get through this last weekend before we thought ahead any further. I’m sure we’ll figure something out.”

Maker was here Saturday for the 1 1/2-mile McKnight, which directly preceded the Pegasus World Cup. Taghleeb won under a terrific ride from Tyler Gaffalione, getting first run on the late-closing Sadler’s Joy to prevail by a head. The Grade 3 Mac Diarmida here March 4 is the likely next start for Taghleeb, a 6-year-old horse owned by Michael Hui.

“Taghleeb really runs well over the Gulfstream turf, so it’s probably a no-brainer to run him back there again,” Maker said Monday from his Louisville, Ky., home, where he was preparing to take his young son, Michael, to elementary school. This was after flying home from Houston, where he was on hand Sunday for the Connally and another Sam Houston stakes triumph with Partly Mocha.

“Bigger Picture is coming back to Florida,” said Maker, who currently has strings at four tracks – Gulfstream, Fair Grounds, Aqueduct, and Turfway Park. “I’m undecided for the moment on Oscar Nominated. Greengrassofyoming will probably show up next in New Orleans.”

In addition, Charming Kitten, a respectable fifth in the McKnight in his first start following a five-month layoff, “got a lot out of that race, I’m sure,” said Maker. As for the 6-year-old Da Big Hoss, “he’s training great” at Gulfstream, he added. “I’ll probably get him started on a work schedule this coming weekend. We’re looking at starting his year at Keeneland” in the Grade 2 Elkhorn Stakes on April 22.

Timely upset for Pretty Perfection

Aside from being a top trainer, Kelly Breen also is a big racing fan. That’s partly why Breen was all smiles after sending out Pretty Perfection to a 13-1 upset Saturday in the $125,000 Ladies’ Turf Sprint on the Pegasus World Cup undercard.

“Winning a stakes on the same day as the Pegasus made it a really special win,” said Breen, wearing his familiar fedora.

The emergence of Pretty Perfection in the filly-and-mare turf-sprint niche comes at an opportune time for Breen and owner Jim Stone of Stoneway Farm. Their standout sprint mare Stonetastic ran her 22nd and final career race here Dec. 17 when third in the Sugar Swirl. Now 6, Stonetastic retires with earnings of $856,062.