Makers Mark Mile (Grade 1)- $600.000 Purse
KEE- For Four Years Old and Upward
One Mile on the Turf
April 14, 2023

The last time that Mickey was on this racetrack, he was scoring a win in the BC Turf. Since we last saw him here at KEE, Mickey added two more Grade 1 victories to his credit, capturing the HOL Derby in December, and the winning the Kilroe Mile in his last start. It would have seemed logical, therefore, for him to have been one of the favorites for this race, and he was the horse that we picked to win. Strangely, he would go off at odds of nearly 10/1, and there were only two horses in the field that were a higher price. Apparently, then, he had some doubters still, so let’s hope that they now believe in the abilities of this horse because it looks like he is going to be successful for quite a while longer. Mickey is proudly trained by South Shore Stables, and he records his first win in the race. L Saez was aboard and also wins the Makers Mark for the first time. Congratulations to them. The time of the win was 1:32.32, the second quickest in the history of the race, and fastest since the inaugural running back in 2005. Let’s take a look at it!

(1/4 Mile- :23.19)- A few horses vie for the early lead, and grabbing a slight hold on the top spot is Proud Bo, for TwinTowersRacing. He has plenty of company nearby, as there are three horses within a length of him. On the inside, he has both Great Bonkers, trained by Aer Stables, and the gritty veteran Lets Do It Big Boy, for RNP Stables. To the leader’s outside, if Pxg, an Mb Stables entries and another one who was a confusing longshot here. Running right behind this group is Valvano, for Royalty Stables, and he has a length over another group of four. The leader in that foursome is our eventual winner, Mickey, for South Shore Stables, and he takes an outside trip around the opening turn. Absolutely Grande (Grimley) is to his inside, then Penal Hockey Party (Maxmillion Farm), and Specialize (Night Rider Stables) being on the rail. Mr Shark (Arindel) is at the back of the pack.

(1/2 Mile- :46.34)- Heading down the stretch, Proud Bo continues to hold the lead, and he extends it ever so slightly over those around him to now be by a full length. Pxg is keeping him close though, and is still to his outside, while Great Bonkers and Lets Do It Big Boy continue to maintain a strong stride with him. Mickey has now moved into the fifth position with his pass of Valvano and is now a little more than two lengths behind the leader while still running in the fourth lane. Penal Hockey Party is able to keep pace will all of these and also gets by the unexpected post time favorite, Absolute Grande. Specialize and Mr Shark trail the field but are not out of it at this point.

(Top of Stretch, 1.7F To Go)- Towards the end of the backstretch, Proud Bo shows his first signs of getting leg weary, and Pxg makes that pass for the lead at the top of the final turn. Great Bonkers was still looking good on the rail and was in a good spot as he reached the top of the stretch and Lets Do It Big Boy was trying to hang with them. Meanwhile, L Saez looks to make a five move with Mickey in the turn, since this is the only way he is going to be able to get around Pxg. He would enter the front stretch a head in front of Lets Do It Big Boy. Penal Hockey Party was closing ever so closer but did not have as clear of a lane to use at this point like Mickey was able to do. Absolutely Grande could not be written off yet, though Valvano was beginning to slip back even more. Specialize and Mr Shark still had not begun to make a move.

(Finish- 1:32.32)- The action picks up in the stretch as Pxg tries his best to hold on, but he would not be able to. To his outside, Mickey kept on gaining ground, and had poked a head in front with a furlong to go. That would not mean the race was won, as Penal Hockey Party was looking very strong, and had room to come between Proud Bo and Pxg, and he was going to make the most of it. Once by them, he made a late run at Mickey and had the stewards examining a photo that ended up being pretty tight at the wire. But it would be Mickey, showing that he is one of the greats and prevailing over Penal Hockey Party for the win. Pxg takes the third spot, and a late outside bid by Absolutely Grande gets that one the fourth-place check. Great Bonkers, despite seemingly being in a good spot for the stretch, lacked response and finishes fifth, ahead of Proud Bo, Lets Do It Big Boy, Specialize, Valvano, and Mr Shark.

About The Winner- Mickey, trained by South Shore Stables and ridden to victory by L Saez, is a four-year-old gelding by Proud Chai and is out of Fine Skeleton. He was bred in California as a second quarter two-year-old by South Shore Stables, the only trainer for which he has ever known. Congratulations to the connections! The win is his tenth in 21 starts, and his eighth stake win. Six of those are Grade 1’s. His career earnings are now $5,340.400.

Track: Firm
Time: :23   :46¹  1:09²  1:32¹

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 9 – 5 Paid 83.50
$1 Trifecta: 9 – 5 – 10 Paid 1,552.90

Scratched: None

— NS

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES