Trainer Mike Maker continued his domination of the $150,000 W. L. McKnight (G3) at Gulfstream Park Saturday, winning for the fourth time in five years with the 1-2 finish of Tide of the Sea and Temple.
The McKnight, run at 1 ½ miles on the turf, was the fifth of seven stakes on Saturday's program that was headlined by the $3-million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) and the $1-million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1).
Maker started his run of success in the McKnight with Taghleeb in 2017 and followed with victories by Oscar Nominated in 2018 and Zulu Alpha in 2019. Last year, Spooky Channel narrowly ended the winning streak, prevailing by a neck over Maker's Cross Border. Maker also saddled the third- and fifth-place finishers.
Under jockey Tyler Gallalione, Tide of the Sea, owned by Three Diamond Farm, led from gate to wire and stopped the timer in 2:24.57, giving Gaffalione his fourth win of the program. The 5-year-old son of English Channel earned his first graded stakes victory by a three-quarters of a length over Temple, owned by Paradise Farms. Sent off at 4-1 in the wagering, Tide of the Sea paid $10 to win.
Wagering favorite Doswell, whose run in the stretch was compromised when he had to check near the eighth pole, finished third.
$150,000 W.L. McKnight (G3) Quotes
Winning jockey Tyler Gaffalione (Tide of the Sea): “His best races were in front when he gets loose comfortably. He traveled great throughout and I just let him do his own thing. He finished up really well when the horse (Temple) came up and challenged him. All credit goes to Mike (Maker) and his team.”
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