Rotknee, Mischief Joke give Maker two-stakes sweep

Trainer Mike Maker swept the two stakes for New York-breds at Aqueduct on Sunday with Rotknee taking the $100,000 Say Florida Sandy for older horses by four lengths and Mischief Joke recording a one-length victory in the $100,000 Rego Park for 3-year-olds.

In the Rego Park, Mischief Joke, away slowly, gradually was guided to the front by Dylan Davis and was in front after running a quarter in 23.47 seconds. He maintained that advantage through a half-mile in 47.54 seconds and held favored Antonio of Venice at bay in the final furlong to win by a length.

It was just the second win from 10 starts for Mischief Joke, a 3-year-old son of Practical Joke owned by Paradise Farms Corp., Parkland Thoroughbred, Barry Fowler and Angelo Carlesimo.

“Early on he always put himself in a good spot, but didn’t want to pass horses,” Maker said.

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In his lone win, last Sept. 23, Mischief Joke was put into the race by Joel Rosario. Mischief Joke was not able to get to the lead in his last three starts, all defeats, two of them on wet tracks.

“He’s a lot different horse these days,” Maker said when asked about handling the wet track on Sunday. “Slow learner.”

Mischief Joke covered the 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:19.76 and returned $5.90 as the second choice.

For Davis, the win was his second on the card. He has gone 12 for 29 over the last five racing programs at Aqueduct to move into a first-place tie atop the rider standings with Kendrick Carmouche, each with 16.

Maker said he would look at the $100,000 Gander for New York-bred 3-year-olds going one mile on Feb. 25 for Mischief Joke’s next start

In the Say Florida Sandy, postponed a week due to weather, Rotknee remained perfect in New York-bred stakes company with a relatively easy victory, getting to the front after a slow break to win handily in the slop.

Despite getting pinched back to last out of the gate, Rotknee, under Jose Lezcano, was soon up on the pace outside of Andiamo a Firenze and Disarmed through fractions of 23.15 seconds for the quarter and 46.75 for the half-mile, after which Rotknee put his head in front.

Rotknee had the lead outside the quarter pole, put away Andiamo a Firenze by the eighth pole and splashed his way to the wire. Aggregation finished second by a neck over Andiamo a Firenze. General Banker, Disarmed and Ocean’s Reserve completed the order of finish.

Maker said he was concerned when Rotknee got away slow from the gate.

“Oh yeah,” he said. “But he really settled nice, usually when he breaks slow, he grabs the bit,” Maker said.

Lezcano told NYRA publicity that Rotknee was relaxed the whole way and added, “the track helped with it being a sealed track to carry him through to the wire.”

Rotknee, a 5-year-old son of Runhappy owned by William Butler, covered the seven furlongs in the slop 1:27.19 and returned $5.70 as the slight choice over Aggregation.

Rotknee won for the ninth time in 17 starts and added the Say Florida Sandy to a resume that includes stakes wins in the Damon Runyon, Mike Lee, Ontario County, and Hudson.

Maker said he would give some thought to trying Rotknee at one mile in the $100,000 Haynesfield on Feb. 24.

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