Maker’s 46 Mile Preview: Big Price Possible in Competitive Field

LEXINGTON, KY – Finish Line Racing, The Elwood Johnson Trust, and Taste of Victory Stables’ What a View, winner of the 2016 Grade 1 Frank Kilroe Mile and runner-up in the 2017 renewal last month, heads a field of 12 entered in Friday’s 29th running of the Grade 1, $300,000 Maker’s 46 Mile.  The Maker’s 46 Mile will go as the ninth race on Friday’s 10-race program with a 5:30 p.m. ET post time.

Trained by Kenny Black, What a View has three runner-up finishes in 2017, including one in the Grade 2 Arcadia to Bolo.  This is the second trip to Keeneland for What a View, who finished eighth in last fall’s Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile.  Tyler Baze, who has been aboard for What a View’s past five starts, retains the call to ride.

Bolo is making the trip east for trainer Carla Gaines and the ownership of Golden Pegasus Racing and Earle Mack.  A two-time Grade 2 winner, Bolo finished third, 1 1/2 lengths behind What a View in the Kilroe in his most recent start.  Mike Smith has the mount.

Topping the East Coast contingent for the race is Terry Hamilton’s Heart to Heart.  Trained by Brian Lynch, Heart to Heart finished second in last year’s race to the filly Miss Temple City.  Julien Leparoux will ride.

Top Choice

#10 Ballagh Rocks – With all the speed here, I’m looking for the best closer in the race, and I believe this horse fits the bill.  He comes into this on a three-race win streak, with each more impressive than the last.  The main issue is his lack of class; he’s never run in a stakes race!  However, the pace should set up extremely well, and he has the training of Bill Mott on his side.  In a wide-open race, I’m willing to take a shot with him and should be rewarded if he pulls it off.  Look for him to sit in the back and make one big run at the end.

Horses to Use in Multi Race Wagers

#9 Heart to Heart – He added to his already-great resume last time out when winning the Grade 3 Canadian Turf Stakes at Gulfstream Park.  He’s always going to be dangerous going one mile on the turf.  He nearly won the race last year but was defeated by Miss Temple City.  I’m a little worried about the pace scenario here.  If he gets into a duel, it will be hard to beat the other speed horses, but if he can get an easy lead, he could be tough to pass.  His trip will make the difference for him.

Exotic Plays

#2 What a View – He’s finished second in three straight races out in California, including last time out in the Grade 1 Kilroe Mile when he lost by a head to Bal a Bali.  This will be the gelding’s second trip outside of California, so how he handles that will be interesting as last time he came to Keeneland he finished eighth.  I would have ranked him a bit higher, but I’m skeptical as to how he’ll run on the road.

#1 Blacktype – There is no doubt that this is one of the most consistent horses in the race.  I almost put him in the “Horses to Use in Multi Race Wagers” category.  However, he comes into this race off of a four and a half month layoff, which has me a little concerned.  Also, while he’s won some nice graded stakes race in the past, none were of this caliber.  He might still be a race or two away from giving the kind of effort needed to win a Grade 1.

#8 Inspector Lynley – He had a nice win last time out in the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Stakes, beating a couple of well-regarded horses.  However, the competition for this race is much higher.  He’s never run in anything higher than a Grade 3, which has me a bit worried about this race.  He looks to be in good enough form to give it a go, but hitting the board might be his ceiling.  

Party Crashers

#3 American Patriot – He has the look of a Pletcher horse that might be ready to run a big one in this spot.  There isn’t a lot of back form suggesting that he’s ready for this type of competition, but last time out, he returned off of a four month layoff and won an allowance race impressively.  It caught my eye enough to make note of it, and the pace could set up for him to make a big run in this spot.  He’s worth a shot if the odds are long.

Throwouts

#4 Bolo – I can never seem to predict when this horse is going to run well.  However, the one constant with him is his dismal record when leaving California.  He’s run three times away from home, and each time, he’s lost by double-digit lengths.  Maybe he can turn that around in this spot, but it’s not going to be easy.

#7 Calculator – I’ve always liked this horse, but I’m a little skeptical with this spotting.  Last time out, he ran great going downhill on the turf at Santa Anita, so I figured he would stay in races like that.  Two races, back he ran a mile on the turf in an allowance race and finished third.  He’ll have to be much better to win today.

#11 Western Reserve – Brad Cox’s horse is running very well this year and will have a little bit of a shot today.  However, this type of competition may be a little tough to handle compared to his Fair Grounds competition this past winter.  We’ll see if he’s ready for the challenge.

#5 Conquest Enforcer – He’s been bet HARD in his last two efforts at Santa Anita but hasn’t lived up to that kind of hype.  Since arriving to Southern California, he’s won a Grade 2 race, and it’s not like he ran terribly in his last two losses, but the competition may have been a little too much for him, and it might be more of the same today.

#6 Conquest Panthera – He lost last time out against Heart to Heart and Bondruant, but it was very close between the top three.  He had won two in a row before that race, so I don’t think that he’s overmatched today.  I had to throw out a couple of horses, and he just happened to make the list.

#12 Bondurant – It’s hard to separate anyone in this race, and there is no better proof than me ranking this horse last.  It’s not a knock on the horse at all, and last time out, he nearly beat Heart to Heart.  If it sets up right today, he’ll have a shot.