Turfway: Maker pair among Spiral workers

Many of the prospects for the upcoming Vinery Racing Spiral Stakes at Turfway Park had their final pre-race works in recent days, including a pair that breezed five furlongs for Mike Maker on Saturday morning at the Trackside training center in Louisville. Mr. Prankster went solo in 1:02.60, while Tizanexpense was timed in 58.80 seconds when working in company.

At the Palm Meadows training center in south Florida, Stealcase breezed five furlongs in 1:00.40 Saturday morning for trainer Mark Casse, who also intends to run Bluedacious in the Spiral.

At this early date, these are the 3-year-olds likely for the Spiral: Bluedacious, Coach Royal, Handsome Mike, Heavy Breathing, Holiday Promise, Ill Conceived, Mr. Prankster, Politicallycorrect, State of Play, Stealcase, Tizanexpense, and Went the Day Well. A few more are being listed by the Turfway racing office as possible starters; only as many as 12 can start.

The 41st Spiral is set for Saturday, March 24, at Turfway in Florence, Ky. Run at 1 1/8 miles over Polytrack, it is one of four stakes, all for 3-year-olds, to be run that day. The others are the $100,000 Bourbonette, the $75,000 Rushaway, and the $50,000 Hansel. Entries will be taken and drawn Thursday.

The Spiral will be televised live on the NBC Sports Network (formerly Versus) as the first of six major prep races on its “The Road to the Derby” series.