Maker hopeful both his horses make field

Trainer Mike Maker was a little surprised the Breeders' Cup selection panel put Kera's Kitten ahead of Dean's Kitten - he trains both colts - on the preference list. As of Monday, Maker was holding out hope that both could find their way into the field for the $1 million Juvenile Turf.

Kera's Kitten should be in as Eskendereya has seemingly landed in the Juvenile field. The expected defection of Vale of York into the Juvenile field puts Awesome Act into the Juvenile Turf, leaving Deans Kitten needing one more defection to get into the field.

Kera's Kitten is 2 for 2, having won a maiden race on soft turf at Kentucky Downs before taking the El Joven on soft ground at Retama Park. Maker said he believes Kera's Kitten "will be a better horse on firmer ground.''

Kera's Kitten won the El Joven on Oct. 24, meaning he will enter this race on two weeks' rest.

"I don't think it's much of a factor,'' he said.

Dean's Kitten, meanwhile, would be running back in less than two weeks as he won the Vision Stakes by a neck at Belmont on Oct. 25, a race in which jockey Ramon Dominguez lost his whip. He also won his maiden by a neck.

"At Saratoga, when he broke his maiden, it looked like he was going to draw off and win by five,'' Maker said. "When he gets the lead he kind of sits there and waits on horses. I give him a big chance if he were to get in.''