Sullimar Stables’ Get Stormy will take on six rivals as he attempts to become just the second repeat winner of the $300,000 Maker’s 46 Mile (gr. IT) April 13 at Keeneland.
The Maker’s 46 Mile is scheduled as the ninth race on Friday’s 10-race program with a 5:13 p.m. EDT post time.
A three-time grade I winner and earner of nearly $1.5 million, Get Stormy will be attempting to join Kip Deville (2007-08) as the only repeat winner of the turf race, which was renamed this year.
The 6-year-old bay horse opened his season in style Feb. 11 when he scored the Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap (gr. IT) at 1 1/8 miles in wire-to-wire fashion. His stellar 2011 campaign included two grade I victories—the Maker’s Mark and Woodford Reserve Turf Classic at Churchill Downs—and four other placings in graded stakes.
Trained by Tom Bush, Get Stormy will be ridden by Ramon Dominguez and break from post 5. The son of Stormy Atlantic will carry top weight of 123 pounds and concede three to five pounds to his rivals.
Get Stormy turned in his first work of the season at Keeneland April 6, going an easy five furlongs in 1:03 3/5 on the turf.
The other top contender in the race is Four D Stables’ Turallure, who makes his season debut. When last seen, the son of Wando was suffering a heartbreaking defeat in the TVG Breeders’ Cup Mile (gr. IT) at Churchill when Court Vision beat him by a nose.
Eighth in this race last year in his season debut, Turallure won the Woodbine Mile (Can-IT) last September, and also captured the Bernard Baruch Handicap (gr. IIT) at Saratoga for trainer Charlie Lopresti.
Turallure will break from post 6, carry 120 pounds, and will be ridden by Julien Leparoux.
Three other graded or group stakes winners are in the field: Doubles Partner, Big Blue Kitten , and Pressday.
WinStar Farm’s Doubles Partner is a three-time graded stakes winner who took the Canadian Turf (gr. IIT) on March 3 at Gulfstream in his first start in nearly 10 months. Trained by Todd Pletcher, Doubles Partner will break from post 1 under Javier Castellano. This will be his first start on the Keeneland turf course.
Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s Big Blue Kitten won the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (gr. IIT) at Saratoga last August and in his most recent start finished third behind Get Stormy in the Gulfstream Park Turf. John Velazquez has the mount.
Press Day Syndicate’s Pressday is a four-time group winner in his native Australia, including one group I score. Trained by John Sadler, Pressday has finished second and third in his two U.S. starts this year at Santa Anita. Joel Rosario has the call.
$300,000 Maker's 46 Mile (gr. IT, Race 9, 5:13 p.m.), 4 & Up, 1 Mile (Turf)