Maker a Triple Threat in Arlington Classic
Trainer Mike Maker has three sophomores for the May 27 Arlington Classic Stakes (G3T), including Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) runner Fast and Accurate.
Mike Maker
News, Articles, Videos and other content about Mike Maker
Trainers’ Dinner Notes and Quotes
The annual Kentucky Derby Trainer's Dinner gives trainers a chance to laugh a little and blow off some steam. Trainer Mike Maker was first up May 2 at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Louisville, and he stole the show.
Fast and Accurate Works Five Furlongs at Churchill
Fast and Accurate, winner of the JACK Cincinnati Casino Spiral Stakes (G3), worked five furlongs in 1:01 1/5 April 30 at Churchill Downs while readying for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1).
Toasting, Not Roasting, Legendary D. Wayne Lukas
They were there to roast their mentor, but by the end of the night April 17 at the Keeneland sales pavilion, the seven prominent trainers who cut their teeth under legendary D. Wayne Lukas ended up toasting their former boss.
Enterprising Digs in to Win Muniz
Maxis Stable's Enterprising once again found himself in the Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots winner's circle with a determined win April 1 in the $300,000 Muniz Memorial Handicap (G2T).
Fast and Accurate Scores Spiral Upset
Kendall Hansen's longshot Fast and Accurate continued his improvement by leaps and bounds March 25 with a victory in the $500,000 JACK Cincinnati Casino Spiral Stakes (G3).
Kitten's Cat Poised for Spiral Stakes
Kitten's Cat, a two-time stakes winner on turf, will try Polytrack in the $500,000 JACK Cincinnati Casino Spiral Stakes (G3) March 25 at Turfway Park.
Da Big Hoss Could Debut in Pan American
Millionaire Da Big Hoss, a winner of four graded stakes during his 2016 campaign, took a step closer to his seasonal debut by working six furlongs on the dirt in 1:14.42 at Gulfstream Park March 17.
Taghleeb Going for Three in a Row in Mac Diarmida
Michael Hui's son of Hard Spun will face two other challengers that have won graded stakes so far this year.
Enterprising Scores in Fair Grounds Handicap
Maxis Stable's Enterprising stalked favorite Oscar Nominated and gained an advantage in the deep stretch to win the $125,000 Fair Grounds Handicap (G3T) Feb. 25 by three-quarters of a length to give trainer Mike Maker the exacta for the race.
International Star Could Add to Fair Grounds Success
Fans at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots figure to be plenty familiar with most of the starters in the $125,000 Mineshaft Handicap (G3) Saturday, Feb. 25.
Taghleeb Lands W. L. McKnight Score
The 6-year-old son of Hard Spun came off a Dec. 31 victory in the H. Allen Jerkens Stakes at Gulfstream for trainer Mike Maker and got the perfect ground-saving rail trip in the McKnight.
Maker Seeks Fourth Straight Connally Turf Cup Win
Trainer Mike Maker has won the past three editions of the $200,000 John B. Connally Turf Cup (G3T) at Same Houston Race Park and he's coming with a loaded hand seeking a fourth straight score Jan. 29.
Purses Improve, Handle Down at Churchill Fall
Churchill Downs reports a 1.9% increase in purses paid at the 21-day fall meet that concluded Nov. 27 in Louisville.
Bigger Picture Makes the Grade in Red Smith
Bigger Picture picked up his first graded victory and held off accomplished rivals to get the job done Nov. 12 at Aqueduct Racetrack, winning the $200,000 Red Smith Handicap (gr. IIIT) over Danish Dynaformer and Wake Forest.
Al's Gal Breaks Through in E. P. Taylor
It took Ken and Sarah Ramsey's 5-year-old mare Al's Gal 26 starts to earn her first graded win, but it was a whopper Oct. 16 at Woodbine.
Ramseys, Maker, Geroux Star at Kentucky Downs
Owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey, trainer Mike Maker and jockey Florent Geroux all clinched repeat titles in their respective categories for the 2016 Kentucky Downs meeting.
Maker, Geroux Sweep Kentucky Downs Stakes
Trainer Mike Maker and jockey Florent Geroux swept the stakes events Sept. 11 at Kentucky Downs and did so as impressively as seemingly imaginable.
Another Big Win for Da Big Hoss
"All I can say is he's the second-best marathon horse in the United States," said trainer Mike Maker, ceding the top position to five-time group/grade I winner Flintshire. "I think we just go right to the Breeders' Cup. He runs really well fresh."
Da Big Hoss Seeks KY Turf Cup Repeat
Da Big Hoss will face eight rivals Sept. 10 when he tries to become only the second horse to capture the $600,000 Calumet Farm Kentucky Turf Cup (gr. IIIT) twice.
New York Will Not Hear Sword Dancer Appeal
Saying the stewards' decision was a judgment call not subject to appeal, the New York State Gaming Commission will not consider an appeal of their choice to take no action against Inordinate in the Aug. 27 Sword Dancer Stakes (gr. IT) at Saratoga.
Da Big Hoss Ignites Graded Double for Sire
Sky Chai Racing's distance specialist Da Big Hoss easily held back good-closing Clondaw Warrior to win the $300,000 American St. Leger (gr. IIIT) Aug. 13 at Arlington International Racecourse.
Da Big Hoss Stands Tall in St. Leger
Da Big Hoss, a sharp winner of his last pair in stakes company, heads Arlington's 1 11/16-mile American St. Leger (gr. IIIT) on the Arlington Million XXXIV undercard.
Queen's Plate Top 3 Return in Prince of Wales
The top three finishers in the Queen's Plate Stakes--Sir Dudley Digges, Amis Gizmo, and All On Red--are set to face off in the $500,000 Prince of Wales Stakes July 26 at Fort Erie.
Greengrassofyoming Wins Stars and Stripes
Greengrassofyoming thrust out his nose in a pulsating four-horse finish to capture the Stars and Stripes Stakes (gr. IIIT) July 9 at Arlington International Racecourse as two-time defending winner The Pizza Man just missed in fourth.
Oscar Nominated, 'Jagger' Seek Turf Glory
The two have been most successful on turf, and if both advance to the Secretariat, they will be making their first grade I attempts on that surface.
Roman Approval Figures in Arlington Handicap
The Arlington Handicap (gr. IIIT) is without a clear-cut favorite, giving bettors many ways to go.
Sir Dudley Digges Upsets Queen's Plate
After a third-place run in the Plate Trial June 12, an extra furlong seemed to suit Sir Dudley Digges July 3 in the $1 million Queen's Plate at Woodbine.
Jockey Hernandez Returns to Action in Florida
Jockey Rafael Hernandez, who was injured in a racing accident at Gulfstream Park Feb. 20, returned to action at the Florida track June 12.
Big Rally for Da Big Hoss in Belmont Gold Cup
- By Frank Angst
Already enjoying success at distance races on the turf, Da Big Hoss found two miles also to his liking as he launched a big rally in the fourth turn on his way to a clear victory in the $300,000 Belmont Gold Cup Stakes June 10 at Belmont Park.
Smokem Kitten Makes the Grade in Miami Mile
Fresh off a course-record performance last time out, Ken and Sarah Ramsey's homebred Smokem Kitten captured his first stakes victory April 30 at Gulfstream Park.
Keeneland Ends With Handle, Attendance Gains
Keeneland concluded its spring meeting April 29 and reported gains in attendance and on-track and all-sources wagering.
Olorda Front-Running Winner of Bewitch
German-bred Olorda has found new life racing on the lead, as evidenced by a gate-to-wire win the $150,000 Bewitch Stakes (gr. IIIT) for fillies and mares April 29, closing day of the spring meet at Keeneland.
Da Big Hoss Bounces Back in Elkhorn Stakes
Da Big Hoss continued his good form in long turf races when he secured his second graded stakes win of the season going 1 1/2 miles on the grass April 23 in the Dixiana Elkhorn Stakes (gr. II) at Keeneland.
Imperative, Page McKenney Return for Charles Town Classic
Imperative and Page McKenney, second and third, respectively, behind Moreno in last year's Charles Town Classic (gr. II), are among 10 older horses entered in the $1.25 million event April 23 at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races.
Oscar Nominated Derby-Bound Despite 'Plan C'
An interesting name popped up on the undercard stakes nominations for Kentucky Derby Day, but Ken Ramsey says not to get the wrong impression.
Oscar Nominated Takes Spiral for Ramseys
Oscar Nominated isn't nominated to the Triple Crown, but he's headed to the Kentucky Derby (gr. I) after his upset win in the $500,000 Horseshoe Cincinnati Casino Spiral Stakes (gr. III) April 2 at Turfway Park.
S'maverlous Stuns New Orleans Handicap Field
Longshot S'maverlous proved up to the challenge of his first stakes try and registered a clear victory in the $400,000 New Orleans Handicap (gr. II) March 26 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.
Whatawonderflworld Entered in Spiral Prep
Gary Barber's Whatawonderflworld, who thus far has shown an affinity for turf and synthetic surfaces, is among a full field of 3-year-olds entered for the $100,000 John Battaglia Memorial Stakes March 12 at Turfway Park.
International Star Faces Mineshaft Four
International Star, who last year swept the 3-year-old prep races on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, will reenter the graded ranks Feb. 20 in the $125,000 Mineshaft Handicap (gr. III) at Fair Grounds.
Da Big Hoss Sets Course Record in Turf Cup
Skychai Racing's Da Big Hoss got a perfect trip and made the most of it Jan. 30 at Sam Houston Race Park.
International Star, Stageplay Roll at FG
Ken and Sarah Ramsey's International Star got back to his winning ways Jan. 16 at the racetrack where he seemingly can't lose -- Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.
International Star Makes Fair Grounds Return
Ken and Sarah Ramsey's International Star returns to the site of his greatest accomplishments Jan. 16, when the reigning Louisiana Derby (gr. II) winner starts in the $60,000 Louisiana Stakes.
Ramseys Pin Louisiana Hopes on Uncle Walter
Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey's Uncle Walter looks to become the outfit's third consecutive winner of the $200,000 Twinspires.com Lecomte Stakes (gr. III) Jan. 16 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.
Kaigun Stretches Out Again in McKnight
The Casse trainee won a pair of graded stakes in 2014, but will be looking for his first victory of the year in the 1 1/2-mile McKnight.
Lanerie, Ramseys Take Churchill Titles
Jockey Corey Lanerie and owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey have locked up the respective jockey and owner titles at Churchill Downs as the 21-day fall meet enters its final day Nov. 29.
Mobile Bay Just Up in Zia Park Derby
Tigertail Ranch's homebred Mobile Bay got the bob and won the Zia Park Derby by a nose, while International Star checked in fourth in his first race since his victory in the Louisiana Derby (gr. II) in March.
Da Big Hoss to Skip Sycamore for BC Turf
Skychai Racing's Da Big Hoss will bypass the Oct. 15 Sycamore Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Keeneland and head to the Oct. 31 Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT) instead.
Kentucky Downs Posts Record Handle, Purses
Mike Maker, who scored in three consecutive races Sept. 19, was named top trainer of the 2015 Kentucky Downs meet while jockey Florent Geroux was the leading rider with 12 victories for the five-day season.
Young Trainer Sharp Gearing Up for Saratoga
Less than a year after starting out on his own as a trainer, Joe Sharp has made a big splash in New York and beyond, quickly establishing himself as a top young conditioner. He will have a string at Saratoga this summer.
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