Maker trio all contenders in Elkhorn

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Mike Maker assumes nothing, but nope, he wouldn’t be all that surprised if he swept the top three spots Saturday when the Grade 2, $250,000 Elkhorn is run for the 34th time at Keeneland.

“I’d like to think we have a pretty good chance, although it does look like it’s a deep, competitive field,” said Maker.

In reality, it’s the Maker trio of Zulu Alpha, Bigger Picture, and Soglio that gives the lineup of 10 older horses in the Elkhorn its greatest depth. Each brings his own set of solid credentials to this 1 1/2-mile turf fixture, and victory from any of them would not qualify as an upset.

Zulu Alpha, who will break from the outside post with Jose Ortiz riding, has been in peak form in recent months and surely will be favored in the three-turn race. Claimed last September by Michael Hui, the 6-year-old gelding has proceeded to win three of four subsequent starts, capturing the Grade 3 Sycamore here last fall prior to scoring in a pair of Gulfstream Park stakes over the winter, the Grade 3 W.L. McKnight and Grade 2 Mac Diarmida.

“It looks like he’s getting better and better,” said Maker. “He’s normally a laid-back horse, but these last few weeks he’s been razor-sharp, so I expect another big one from him.”

Soglio (post 4, Florent Geroux to ride) was second in the McKnight, then sixth at Gulfstream in the Pan American on March 30.

“I think he was the victim of a slow pace,” said Maker. “He’s a very consistent runner and just needs to finish the job.”

Bigger Picture (post 7, Tyler Gaffalione) is a Grade 1 winner who has earned nearly $1.5 million.

“He’s a little long in the tooth but still consistent and capable,” said Maker.

Bigger Picture was seventh in the Pan American.

“I also thought he was left with too much to do, so hopefully we’ll have more pace in this race Saturday,” he said.

The presence of Leitone, Tiz a Slam, and Final Copy in the Elkhorn lineup would seem to assure honest fractions. If a contested pace does unfold, then the Maker horses all would stand to benefit, as would rivals Red Knight, Canessar, and Hunter O’Riley.

Red Knight (post 8, Luis Saez) shortens back from a triumph in the two-mile Allen Jerkens at Gulfstream in December. The 5-year-old gelding resumed a breeze schedule in mid-March at Payson Park for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott.

Canessar (post 5, Feargal Lynch), fifth at just 3-1 in the McKnight, will be looking to snap a six-race losing streak by using a better-timed rally. Trained by Arnaud Delacour, he made the lead in the Pan American before settling for fourth.

Hunter O’Riley (post 2, Joel Rosario) mostly struggled versus Zulu Alpha in recent starts at Gulfstream, but Rosario has held a hot hand here lately, and the late-running gelding stands to make an impact given a more favorable race shape.

The Elkhorn goes as the ninth of 10 Saturday races on a card that starts at 1:05 p.m. Eastern. Three allowances (races 4, 7, 8) precede the feature, which goes at 5:30. Rain and a high of 48 are in the local forecast.

After Saturday, Keeneland goes dark Sunday for the Easter holiday, with the final three-day stretch of the spring meet starting Wednesday.