Maker sends out turf-to-Poly pair in Wintergreen
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE
Mike Maker just won another training title at Turfway Park.
And in other breaking news, it’s going to be snowy and cold this winter at Turfway.
Indeed, domination by Maker at the northern Kentucky track has become the status quo despite the fact that he takes his better horses every winter to Gulfstream Park in south Florida. Maker finished the 2016 holiday meet, which ran Nov. 30 to Dec. 31, with 12 winners, marking the 18th time his name has topped the Turfway standings.
There’s no sign of letting up, as Maker could have the top two wagering choices when the first of eight stakes at the 2017 Turfway winter-spring meet, the $50,000 Wintergreen, is run Saturday night. Susie Bee, with Albin Jimenez riding from post 11, and Be Playful (post 3, Rafael Hernandez) are those major contenders in the 35th running of the Wintergreen, a one-mile Polytrack race that drew an oversubscribed field of fillies and mares.
Susie Bee “has been facing better and hopefully will take to the Polytrack,” Maker said from Gulfstream.
Be Playful was claimed for $40,000 at the Churchill Downs fall meet.
“We’re expecting a big effort from her,” Maker said.
First post Saturday is 6:15 p.m. Eastern, with the Wintergreen set for 8:40 as the sixth of nine races.
The Wintergreen is named for the Ohio-bred whose lone stakes victory came in the 1909 Kentucky Derby. Wintergreen died in a barn fire at the old Latonia Race Course in Covington, Ky., on April 10, 1914.
KEY CONTENDERS
Susie Bee, by English Channel
Last 3 Beyers: 85-76-85
◗ Bred and owned by Brad Kelley of Calumet Farm, this gray mare has earned more than $200,000 while racing exclusively on turf and appears to have the credentials to transition to the Turfway synthetic.
Be Playful, by Pure Prize
Last 3 Beyers: 79-83-77
◗ She, too, has competed primarily on grass and would seem like a natural to make the switch to a surface that tends to favor turf types.
Momameamaria, by Quality Road
Last 3 Beyers: 68-69-86
◗ Heretofore strictly a sprinter, she’ll stretch out to this two-turn distance under Abel Lezcano, the top jockey at the holiday meet.
Miner’s Cat, by Mineshaft
Last 3 Beyers: 80-73-69
◗ Trained by Charlie LoPresti of Wise Dan fame, she’ll make her synthetic debut off a visually impressive allowance score over the Churchill dirt.