Defending champion Touch of the Blues is among the 10 horses entered in Friday's 15th running of the Maker's Mark Mile (gr. IIT) at Keeneland. Touch of the Blues won the $200,000 race last year, but has not started since competing in the Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT) last October. The Neil Drysdale trainee spent the winter in California preparing for this race. Kent Desormeaux, who rode the Gainsborough Farm colorbearer to last year's thrilling come-from-behind victory will be in the saddle again.
Juddmonte Farm's Decarchy will do his best to dethrone Touch of the Blues. A Juddmonte homebred and a son of Distant View from the blue hen broodmare Toussaud, Decarchy is winless this year in two stakes tries, but he has run against some tough competitors and has been narrowly beaten in both races. Edgar Prado takes the reins for Bobby Frankel and might be the catalyst for a winning effort.
Music's Storm makes his debut for trainer Todd Pletcher in the Maker's Mark. He has been facing the best turf milers at Santa Anita with some success and should find the Keeneland course suitable for his closing kick. Pat Day will sport the familiar red and white silks of Aaron and Marie Jones, the perfect colors for Maker's Mark Day.
The Thoroughbred Corp. has entered Chilean star Mister Acpen, who will make his U.S. debut for trainer Kristen Mulhall. He was a multiple stakes winner in his native land. Trainer John Kimmel will send out Statement, who has won his last three races. Shane Sellers will pilot Mister Acpen, with Eibar Coa named to ride Statement.
The field for the Maker's Mark Mile, to be run on Keeneland's turf course on Friday, April 11.
Horse, jockey, weight
1--Angel On the Wing, Frank Lovato Jr., 116
2--Private Son, Cornelio Velasquez, 116
3--Royal Spy, Robby Albarado, 118
4--Political Attack, Mark Guidry, 116
5--Miesque's Approval, Jerry Bailey, 118
6--Mister Acpen, Shane Sellers, 116
7--Decarchy, Edgar Prado, 116
8--Statement, Eibar Coa, 116
9--Touch of the Blues, Kent Desormeaux, 116
10--Music's Storm, Pat Day, 116
Maker's Mark Mile Day Turns Lexington RedWildcat Blue is the official color of Lexington, Kentucky, but on Friday, Maker's Mark turns Lexington red, when the Maker's Mark Mile is run at Keeneland. More than 3,000 Maker's Mark Ambassadors from more than 28 states have indicated their plans to attend the festivities at Keeneland. Fans are encouraged to wear their best red duds, with a prize of Marker's Mark President Bill Samuels' Churchill Downs box on Kentucky Oaks day for the best dressed. Last year more than 7,000 fans wore red.
"We want everyone to dress with the understated elegance and class we expect to see at the races--we just want them to do it wearing red," said Samuels.
The traditional commemorative bottle signing kicks off Maker's Mark Day at 6:30 a.m.(ET). This year's bottle honor's the 30th anniversary of Secretariat's Triple Crown victory. His owner Penny Chenery and his jockey Ron Turcotte will join Keeneland President Nick Nicholson and Bill Samuels for the signing.
