Maker’s 46 Mile 2015 at Keeneland

Las Vegas, NV – Keeneland in Lexington, Kentucky will be the scene of the Grade 1 Maker’s 46 Mile this Friday, April 10. Horses four years old and upward will be featured as they go one mile on Keeneland’s turf track searching for the winner’s share of the $300,000.

An evenly matched field of seven minus two-time winner Wise Dan have been confirmed for the Maker’s 46 Mile – race 9 on Keeneland’s Saturday schedule. Post time is 5:13 PM. Here is a peek into the past performances of all seven entries for this Grade 1 stakes – all of which will be looking for their first Grade 1 score.

Summer Front – Seven time stakes winner and Christophe Clement trainee is coming off a decent second in the Grade 1 Frank E. Kilroe Mile at Santa Anita March 7 which followed an OK fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Mile and three straight seconds – in the Grade 1 Eddie Read Stakes in July, in the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile at Santa Anita June 14 and in the Grade 3 Fort Marcy Stakes at Belmont Park May 3. He also had a terrific win in the Grade 2 Ft. Lauderdale Stakes last January 11 and a good second to Silentio in the Grade 2 Citation Handicap at Hollywood Park November 29, 2013. Summer Front has runner-up finishes in four of his last five starts (three Grade 1 races) but looks for his first win in 15 months Friday from post 3 with Victor Espinoza in the saddle.

Za Approval – last year’s fourth place finisher in this race had a win, a second and a third place finish in six starts last year and finished fourth in his first start this year – in the Grade 2 Fort Lauderdale Stakes at Gulfstream January 10. Last time out was another fourth in the Grade 1 Frank E.Kilroe Mile at Santa Anita March 7 after a respectable second in the Grade 2 Arcadia Stakes January 31. He had a second in the Grade 2 Seabiscuit Handicap at Del Mar November 28, a win in the minor Real Courage Stakes at Belmont Park September 7 and the third in the Grade 3 Poker Stakes as well. Za Approval was at his best in 2013 – a second behind Wise Dan in the Breeders’ Cup Mile, wins in the Grade 3 Knickerbocker Stakes, Grade 3 Red Bank Stakes and Grade 3 Appleton Stakes and he had two good runner-up finishes in Grade 1 races as well – the Shoemaker Mile and the Woodbine Mile. Za Approval is the most experienced entry in the field and enters in decent form. He is 0-for-his-last-9 in graded stakes action however but will have the legend Mike Smith aboard from post 6.

Long On Value – Bill Mott trained colt has placed in five of his last seven starts has won three of his last four overall. Last time out was a good win in the Grade 3 Canadian Turf Stakes at 10-1 odds at Gulfstream February 21 which followed an uncharacteristic seventh in the Grade 2 Mathis Brothers Mile at Santa Anita in December and a nice two race win streak – the Grade 2 Twilight Derby at 11-1 odds October 31 and in the minor Mystic Lake Derby at Canterbury Park September 13. Before that was a fourth in the Grade 2 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes in August and consecutive seconds including the Grade 3 Arlington Classic in May. He has been terrific the last 11 months and hopes to keep the trend going from post 2 with Joel Rosario aboard.

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Jack Milton – Todd Pletcher trainee has failed to place in his last two starts – a fourth in the Grade 3 Canadian Turf Stakes February 21 followed a ninth in the Woodbine Mile in September. Before that was an OK third to Seek Again and Grand Arch in the Grade 2 Fourstardave Handicap at Saratoga August 9, a disappointing fifth in the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile at Santa Anita June 14 and a two race win streak – the Grade 3 Poker Stakes by 2 3/4 lengths in June at Belmont Park and an Allowance Optional Claiming May 1. He also had four straight third place finishes including the Grade 1 Jamaica Handicap in October, 2013 the Grade 1 Secretariat in August, 2013 and the Grade 2 Virginia Derby in July of that year. He looks for his first win in nearly a year and enters in less-than-spectacular form. Javier Castellano gets the call from the outside post.

Legendary – British bred Niall Saville trained gelding has 20 career starts with six wins, five seconds and two third place finishes. He has looked good since shipping to North America – four wins, a second and a third place finish in seven starts. He enters off an uncharacteristic fifth in the Grade 3 Red Smith Handicap at Aqueduct November 15 which followed a terrific win in the Grade 3 Knickerbocker Stakes in October and a nice win in the minor Japan Racing Association Stakes at Laurel Park in September. He has won four of his last six starts overall but races for the first time in five months Friday. Jockey Sheldon Russell will be in charge as Legendary looks for a bounceback from post 5.

Aripeka – Eddie Kenneally trained gelding has 10 career starts with three wins, four seconds and two third place finishes – the only off-the-board finish came in his debut. He enters off a second in the Grade 3 Appleton Stakes March 28 which followed a third behind Long On Value in the Grade 3 Canadian Turf Stakes February 21 and an Allowance Optional Claiming score December 18 – all at Gulfstream. Aripeka has been very competitive the last 18 months and could be a sneaky entry for Friday’s race. Julien Leparoux rides from gate 4.

Skyring – has failed to place in his last three starts for trainer Jose Fernandez – a fifth two back in the Grad 2 San Gabriel Stakes in January was his best result in a year. He did win the Grade 2 Mervin H. Muniz Jr. Handicap last March and he did have a second in the Grade 3 Fair Grounds Handicap in February so we know he can race. He has placed in just two of his last 12 starts and despite some good results a year ago isn’t expected to be much of a factor this week. He will line up in gate 1 with Marcelino Pedroza getting the call.

Race 9 on Keeneland’s Friday card with a Post Time of 5:13 PM.