Maker has tough pair in Mohawk Stakes

ELMONT, N.Y. – Cross Border and Somelikeithotbrown give trainer Mike Maker a strong one-two combination in Saturday’s $150,000 Mohawk Stakes, scheduled for 1 1/16 miles on turf. The one caveat is that the two are a combined 0 for 7 at Belmont Park.

Granted, Cross Border’s last two starts at Belmont have come in Grade 1 stakes. He is facing New York-breds for the first time since he won the Lubash Stakes on July 22 at Saratoga. He is 3 for 3 versus statebreds, with all those wins coming in Saratoga.

Somelikeithotbrown hasn’t faced New York-breds since he won a maiden race on Aug. 8 at Saratoga that was scheduled for 1 1/16 miles but run at nine furlongs. He won the Grade 2 Bernard Baruch at Saratoga in July and most recently finished second in the Grade 2 Dinner Party at Pimlico on Preakness Day.

Cross Border drew post 8, while Somelikeithotbrown drew the 7. There are seven runners on turf and one for the main track. Entered on turf are Opt, Dot Matrix, Sanctuary City, Therapist, and Rinaldi.

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In other stakes:

◗ Myhartblongstodady looks to improve her winning streak to four when she meets five rivals in the $150,000 Ticonderoga Stakes for fillies and mares, scheduled for 1 1/16 miles on turf. Wegetsdamunnys and War Canoe, second and fourth behind Myhartblongstodady in the Yaddo at Saratoga, are back to take her on again.

◗ My Boy Tate looks to build off his recent allowance win at Parx Racing when he returns to New York-bred competition in the $125,000 Hudson Handicap for male sprinters. The 6 1/2-furlong race drew a field of nine, including Arthur’s Hope, Big Engine, Tribecca, Captain Bombastic, Dugout, T Loves a Fight, Foolish Ghost, and Morning Breez.

◗ Newly Minted, winner of the Union Avenue Stakes in August at Saratoga, could be a slight favorite against nine female sprinters in the $125,000 Iroquois Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs.

◗ Party At Page’s, winner of the Lady Finger Stakes at Finger Lakes on Oct. 5, heads a field of seven 2-year-old fillies in the $150,000 Maid of the Mist Stakes going a mile.

◗ Hold the Salsa, upset winner of the Bertram Bongard Stakes here on Oct. 2, is back in three weeks for the $150,000 Sleepy Hollow at a mile where he’ll face five foes including Breadman, who was a debut winner on turf for trainer John Terranova.