Sam Houston: Maker-Ramsey team eyes stakes triple

Trainer Mike Maker, who has already bagged one of the biggest races of the meet at Sam Houston, will be chasing a stakes triple at the Houston, Texas, track on Saturday night, when he starts Leadem in Ken in the $100,000 Maxxam Gold Cup, Kowboy Boots in the $50,000 Texas Heritage for 3-year-olds, and Always Kitten in the $50,000 Jersey Lilly. All three are owned by Ken and Sarah Ramsey.

In January, Maker won the Grade 3, $200,000 Connally Turf Cup for the second time in three years, with Admiral Kitten. The Connally Turf Cup is the season’s most lucrative turf offering, and the Maxxam is the meet’s richest dirt race for older males.

A field of six will go in the 1 1/8-mile stakes, including Frac Daddy, who makes his first start since running second in the Grade 3 Commonwealth at Churchill in November, and Red Rifle, who will be the first Sam Houston starter for trainer Todd Pletcher.

Leadem in Ken won on dirt for the first time last out in an optional $40,000 claimer at Fair Grounds on Feb. 7. He stalked the pace before going on to a four-length win in the 1 1/16-mile race for his third victory from seven career starts. His previous wins had come on the turf.

“He ran a good race on the dirt last time,” Maker said. “With the short field, we figured we’d take a shot in here.

“He’s been late-maturing, continues to mature, continues to improve.”

Rosie Napravnik has the mount from post 3.

Leadem in Ken will be moving to 1 1/8 miles for the first time Saturday.

“He’s forced the pace before if it’s slow enough, and he can sit off it if need be,” Maker said.

Red Rifle was second last out in an optional $62,500 claimer at Gulfstream on Jan. 17, which has become a key race. Three horses from that race have come back to win their next start, including winner Bradester, who captured the Grade 3 Mineshaft at Fair Grounds, and third-place finisher Pick of the Litter, who won an optional $62,500 claimer at Gulfstream.

Robby Albarado, a three-time winner of the Maxxam, has the mount on Red Rifle for WinStar Farm and Twin Creeks Racing.

Frac Daddy was beaten a half-length in the Commonwealth. The winner, Red Seven, came back to take the $100,000 Harlan’s Holiday at Gulfstream. As for Frac Daddy, he’s back on dirt for the first time since last summer. Shane Laviolette has the mount for trainer Ken McPeek, who won last year’s Maxxam with Unstoppable U.

◗ Kowboy Boots will add blinkers in the Texas Heritage.

“We’re trying to get him to pick up the bit a little more,” Maker said. “He can be on the lazy side.”

A Triple Crown nominee, Kowboy Boots will be moving back to two turns for the Texas Heritage, a one-mile race won last year by Departing.

◗ Maker is looking for his second straight Jersey Lilly win after taking last year’s 1 1/16-mile turf race for fillies and mares with Artemus Kitten. His representative this year, Always Kitten, is a two-time stakes winner.