The 18th Running of the G1 Makers Mark Mile
April 15, 2022
$600.000 1-Mile Turf
KEE Race #2 Post Time 18:45
4YO and Up 123 Lbs
Track Record-1:31.91 (A Little Oblivion-2012)
Stakes Record-1:32.28 (Royal Randwick-2005)
2022 had not been kind to last year’s G1 BC Mile winner Nevada Silver but it got a lot better on Friday at KEE. Racing closer to the back of the pack than the front, Nevada Silver rallied furiously to just get his nose down on the wire in the $600.000 G1 Makers Mark Mile. Racing on a firm KEE turf course, Nevada Silver won by the slimmest of noses over Ptyrannical in the time of 1:32.84.
When the gates popped, it was Value Labor and Plucky Flash that got away the best as they crossed under the wire the first time. Two three horse packs chased them as Cherokee Surprise, Ptyrannical, and Kid Commander ran in the second flight while Nevada Silver raced on the outside of the third flight.
Value Labor put a length on Plucky Flash as he posted a :23.05 first quarter. Kid Commander and Ptyrannical were next as they rounded the first turn and Nevada Silver was four lengths off of the lead and three-wide around the first bend. Value Labor was two lengths clear of Plucky Flash after posting a duplicate :23.05 second quarter as Ptyrannical began to get even with the latter. Nevada Silver was no closer to the rail and was five lengths back while running in 5th.
Entering the turn, Plucky Flash shifted out, back in, and finally back out as he tried to reduce the lead of Value Labor. His shifting caused Ptyrannical and Kid Commander to alter course accordingly as they entered the turn three and four wide, respectively. Watching all of that shifting in front of him, Nevada Silver held his course in the three-path, but he had lost a bit of ground and looked to be six or seven lengths back. Midway on the turn, jockey V.R. Carrasco made the choice to give up the ground and he moved six-wide in preparation of launching his bid.
Value Labor posted a 1:09.26 mark for three-quarters, but he was about to be challenged by Ptyrannical who was moving beautifully in the three-path. Nevada Silver, wide but without a straw in his path, was looming boldly out in the center of the track; however, he had his work cut out for him. With a furlong to go, Ptyrannical was the leader and he was not showing any signs of slowing down. Out in the center of the course, Nevada Silver had a ton of momentum, but he still had a bit more than a length to make up.
By the sixteenth pole, Ptyrannical’s lead was less than a length but the Arindel gelding was determined. On the outside, Nevada Silver was bearing down on him and, almost unnoticed, Cold Weather Rider had slipped up the rail to be third and closing. In an agonizingly close finish, Nevada Silver got up in the final stride to nail Ptyrannical on the wire with Cold Weather Rider a length back in 3rd. It was another half-length back to Kid Commander who out-gamed Money Truck for 4th. Completing the order of finish were Value Labor, Plucky Flash, and Cherokee Surprise.
What a horse race! Nevada Silver registered the 2nd G1 tally of his career and 6th victory from 13 starts. His bankroll now stands at $2,175.250 for Nakamura Stables. Congratulations to both for their victory in the G1 Makers Mark Mile!
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES
