Maker represented by 2,000th winner

Mike Maker was represented by the 2,000th winner of his training career when Tomahawk Kitten rallied to win the first race Thursday night at Turfway Park in northern Kentucky.

Ridden by Alex Canchari, Tomahawk Kitten circled rivals on the far turn before proceeding to an easy score in the $7,500 maiden-claiming race going a mile on Polytrack. Fittingly, the winner is a 2-year-old colt bred and owned by Ken and Sarah Ramsey, with whom Maker has enjoyed considerable success through the years. He paid $5 as favorite in a field of eight.

“It’s extra-special coming for the Ramseys,” said Maker, who earlier this week traveled to Florida for the winter while assistant John Lynde remained in charge of his Turfway string.

Maker, 48, grew up in Michigan as the son of the late George Maker, a successful trainer from whom he learned the racing business. Mike Maker eventually became known on a national level as a top assistant to Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas before opening his own stable in 2003.

Based primarily at the Trackside training center in Louisville, Ky., while also maintaining multiple strings elsewhere, Maker has gone on to win or tie for the leading-trainer title at all five Thoroughbred tracks in Kentucky at least twice, including six times at Churchill Downs, five times at Keeneland, and a record 19 at Turfway. His 25 winners at the 2013 Keeneland spring meet is an all-time record at the Lexington, Ky., track.

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From more than 9,200 starts, Maker’s horses have won 64 graded stakes and earned more than $77.5 million. He has won more races (415) at Turfway than any other track, including Churchill (360).

“I sure didn’t think all of this would happen as fast as it has,” Maker said last week. “It’s really a credit to my clients and employees and of course all the horses. I’m humbled.”

This latest achievement came less than 48 hours before the 19th running of the Claiming Crown series Saturday at Gulfstream Park, where Maker spends much of the winter overseeing his main string. Maker is the all-time leading trainer in Claiming Crown history.

Equibase and Daily Racing Form are unable to provide a full list of trainers who have won 2,000 races, but the top 50 ends with Ronney Brown with 2,486 wins. The late Dale Baird is the all-time leader with 9,445, followed by Steve Asmussen (7,848 through Tuesday).