Maker wins six of first 17 races at meet

FRANKLIN, Ky. – Mike Maker, the all-time Kentucky Downs leader in every major training category, was reluctant to predict how his stable would fare before the Sept. 1 opener – but he’d be justified now in saying he expects a successful meet.

Maker won six of the first 17 races – three on Sept. 1 and three more Saturday – before Towhead lost a wicked head-bob in the Juvenile Fillies.

“We’ll try to keep it going,” he said.

Two of the Maker winners were ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, who racked up some serious travel miles in the last week. Gaffalione rode Thursday at Kentucky Downs, Friday at Saratoga, Saturday at Kentucky Downs, Sunday at Saratoga, and Monday at Kentucky Downs. The Monday makeup date created a conflict for him and several other jockeys, with Gaffalione opting to take off seven scheduled mounts on the Saratoga closing-day card.

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