Relentless Dancer romps to another big-margin win for trainer Mike Maker

Relentless Dancer has established himself as a Louisiana-bred of note – and he’s made just three starts. The talented son of Midshipman won his stakes debut Saturday night, cruising to a 10 1/2-length win in the $100,000 Louisiana Legacy at Delta Downs.

The score came on the heels of a 9 3/4-length win in a maiden special weight at Churchill Downs. For both races, Relentless Dancer earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 82. He won over 6 1/2 furlongs in the maiden race and over seven furlongs in the Legacy.

The Legacy, which was a two-turn race, was the first start Relentless Dancer has made against Louisiana-breds. He will likely remain with statebreds for his next start, trainer Mike Maker said Monday. The horse is being pointed for the Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile on Dec. 14 at Fair Grounds.

Relentless Dancer stalked the pace in the Legacy, moved to the fore late on the far turn, and increased his advantage to the wire Saturday.

“He was very impressive again,” Maker said. “He’s a horse we always had high hopes for and he’s not letting us down.”

Relentless Dancer races for the partnership of Paradise Farms Corp, Terry Raymond, Jana Wagner, and Jeff Gardella. He was an $85,000 purchase at a 2-year-olds in training sale this past spring at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company.

“He’s a grand-looking colt, and a Louisiana-bred,” Maker said.

Relentless Dancer is now back home in Kentucky and will later travel to Fair Grounds with Maker’s division this winter.

Maker to race at Oaklawn

Trainer Mike Maker said Monday he is planning on sending a division of 20 to 25 horses to Oaklawn Park for the meet, which opens in January. He estimated it’s been about four or five years since he’s had a division in Hot Springs, Ark.

“I’ve got some Arkansas owners and they wanted to go,” said Maker.

Maker will be active in the upcoming Breeders’ Cup, with starters in the Turf and Juvenile Turf Sprint.

Horses trained by Maker are nearing $100 million in earnings in North America. He’s had 2,351 wins from 11,415 starters through Sunday, with those horses earning a collective $97,596,059, according to statistics from Daily Racing Form.

◗ Remington Park will feature fillies and mares on turf Thursday night, with Kona Katie leading a first-level allowance sprint at five furlongs. She was third at this level last out. Trainer Karl Broberg has given the mount to David Cabrera, who is coming off a big week, having won three stakes on the Oklahoma Classics Night card Friday, one of them for Broberg.

Cabrera also won the featured $175,000 Classics Cup with Shotgun Kowboy and the $130,000 Sprint with Welder, the reigning Oklahoma-bred of the year.