Makers Mark Mile (Grade 1)- $650.000 Purse
KEE- For Four Year Olds and Upward
One Mile on the Turf
April 11, 2025

Spankys Barn might not have been too thrilled when he saw the post draw for the Makers Mark Mile, but the trainer was not going to let that get in the way of his plans. He brought two horses that had run in the BC Mile last fall, but while he was certainly hoping for it, he was likely not expecting the eventual result. In a loaded field, Spankys Barn would get a 1-2 finish, winning the race with Oh Brother winning and Electric Blue taking the second spot. Both horses were quick out of the gate from their outside posts, something that is common for Electric Blue every time out, but not necessarily the case with Oh Brother. With the 1-2 finish, Spankys Barn is now a two-time winner of the race, as he won in 2018 as well with the late Controlled Power. The winning rider was T Gaffalione, his first such win. Congratulations to them! The time of the win was 1:32.21, and that’s a new Makers Mark Mile record! Let’s take a look at it:

(1/4 Mile- :22.93)- Oh Brother, our eventual winner from Spankys Barn, breaks sharply out of the gate, and is able to clear the rest of the field just in time for the turn to be able to move all the way to the rail. His stablemate, Electric Blue, was not quite as fortunate, and will be five wide around the turn while being half a length of the other four to his inside. Grand Opening, running for Riggins Racing, is third, and has a neck in front of the other three, who are all matching one another’s stride. The reigning BC Mile champion from Nakamura Stables, Jakarta, is credited with running fourth, with Crickets (Martyparty) fifth and Winned (Team 7 Illusions) sixth, and all of them are within two lengths of the leader. Tucked in tightly behind them on the rail is Absolutely Grande (Grimley), with Wimbledon (Night Rider Stables) also close behind to the five wide group. It’s a length and a half to Killer Instinct (Mb Stables), and trailing the field are Jerk Pork (TwinTowersRacing) and Albaquirky (Santan Stables).

(½ Mile- :46.00)- Heading down the backstretch, Oh Brother looks very comfortable despite this not being his typical running style. He’s pulled away from everyone that is trained by other stables but has a friend a length behind him to his outside in Electric Blue. It’s another length to Grand Opening, with the next few being a half-length ahead of the next one: Jakarta, Winned, Crickets, Absolutely Grande, and Wimbledon. Killer Instinct is a length and a half behind that formation, with the two trainers still being Jerk Pork and Albaquirky.

(Top of Stretch, 1.8F To Go)- Things are still looking good for Spankys Barn out front, as Oh Brother is still leading Electric Blue by about a length. Grand Opening is inching closer in the third lane, so there was still plenty more work to be done by the two leaders. Jakarta and Grande Opening held the fourth and fifth spots and were close enough to make a run at the leaders, but time was running out for them to do so. Crickets, Winned, and Wimbledon began to drop back, and Killer Instinct would prepare to pick up the pieces there to move up in the running order, but he would need to find an additional burst of speed to mount a challenge further up in the field. Jerk Pork had put away Albaquirky, but was still far back.

(Finish- 1:32.21)- The finish to this race would end up being a lot closer than it seemed like it would be at the top of the stretch. Both Oh Brother and Electric Blue looked like they were hanging on as we approached the wire, and challengers began making up ground quickly. Grand Opening would have seemed like the best bet at this point to capitalize, but the biggest challenger would be further back as Killer Instinct had saved his best for the end and was coming quickly. Absolutely Grande and Jakarta also were gaining but would be passed by Killer Instinct. T Gaffalione did all he could to make sure Oh Brother could hang on, and indeed, he would be able to do so, winning by a half-length over a second-place photo. In that, Electric Blue would get the head bob on Killer Instinct, securing the 1-2 finish for Spankys Barn. Grand Opening was also close in that photo and is credited with fourth. Absolutely Grande can also be seen in that picture and is fifth. Jakarta is next, and then it’s about a length to Jerk Pork and another to Winned. Then, it’s Wimbledon, and we have to wonder more about Albaquirky at this point in his career, as he is last.

About The Winner- Oh Brother, trained by Spankys Barn and ridden to victory by T Gaffalione, is a six-year-old gelding by the late Roger Rabbit and is out of the late Zees Sissy. He was bred by Rampage Stable as a yearling in California and was acquired by Spankys Barn for $45.010 in the June 2023 auction. Congratulations to the connections! The win is his ninth in 30 starts, his sixth stake win and fifth graded win. His career earnings are now $1,788.200.

Track: Firm
Time: :22⁴  :46  1:09  1:32¹

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 12 – 11 Paid 82.90
$1 Trifecta: 12 – 11 – 9 Paid 968.10

Scratched: Drone Strike, Charlie Jace(L)

— NS

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES