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Another Maker Claim Makes the Grade in UN

Mike Maker’s incredible success with turning claimers into graded winners on the turf is well documented, but that didn’t stop Aquaphobia from getting lost on the board and upending Saturday’s GI United Nations S. at 10-1 off a 9-2 morning line. Taken for $62,500 out of a fourth-place run at Gulfstream Jan. 26 for Drawing Away Stable and Robert Falcone, Jr., the bay immediately began repaying his new connections’ investment when he bested future stablemate and fellow UN competitor Muggsamatic (Any Given Saturday) in a Gulfstream starter stakes race Feb. 17. Fourth in the GII Muniz Memorial Classic S. at Fair Grounds Mar. 21, he was second in a listed event back at Gulfstream May 9 and most recently checked in a close fourth in the GII Wise Dan S. at Churchill June 20.

Aquaphobia settled into a ground-saving third as Paret cruised along through splits of :24.50, :48.90, 1:14.41 and 1:38.48. He looked loaded heading for home but was stuck in the pocket behind Paret and inside the coming-on Corelli. Rider Joe Bravo got busy on Aquaphobia in upper stretch, pushed him through a tight seam midway down the lane and that was that.

“Joe Bravo rode him beautifully,” Maker said. “We had a lot of confidence in the horse coming in and he didn’t let us down. He’s run a mile and quarter in the past in he was successful but he hasn’t had the opportunity to go that long or longer again. We felt this horse was better than we were getting out of him. I think the distance was the reason. He’d been training dynamite, so I was optimistic. Coming out of his last race, the Wise Dan, I thought that was a good race. He was beaten less than two lengths. So it looked like he was getting back to where we think he can be. He’s a classy, sound horse who makes it easy.”

Maker and co-owner Paradise Farms Corp. took the GII Pan American S. in March with $30,000 claim Bemma’s Boy (Into Mischief), who bested Maker trainee, former claimer (not by Maker) and GI Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational S. Presented by Runhappy hero Zulu Alpha (Street Cry {Ire}). Zulu Alpha took last Sunday’s GII TVG Elkhorn S. at Keeneland.

Saturday, Monmouth Park
UNITED NATIONS S.-GI, $315,000, Monmouth, 7-18, 3yo/up, 1 3/8mT, 2:12.63, fm.
1–AQUAPHOBIA, 125, h, 7, by Giant’s Causeway
1st Dam: Pussycat Doll (MGISW, $797,183), by Real Quiet
2nd Dam: Hookedonthefeelin, by Citidancer
3rd Dam: Prospective Joy, by Allen’s Prospect
1ST GRADED STAKES WIN, 1ST GRADE I WIN. O-Paradise
Farms Corp, David Staudacher, Hooties Racing LLC & Skychai
Racing, LLC; B-M Roy Jackson (KY); T-Michael J Maker; J-Joe
Bravo. $180,000. Lifetime Record: 36-9-6-6, $647,361. Click
for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick Rating: C+.
2–Paret (Aus), 125, g, 6, Harbour Watch (Ire)–Enduja (Aus), by
Encosta de Lago (Aus). (110,000 Ylg ’16 MMLJAN). O-Matthew
Schera & Orangella Racing Stable; B-Qatar Bloodstock (Vic);
T-James L Lawrence, II. $60,000.
3–Corelli, 121, g, 5, Point of Entry–Vignette, by Diesis (GB).
O-Augustin Stable; B-George Strawbridge (KY); T-Jonathan
Thomas. $30,000.
Margins: 1, HF, 3 3/4. Odds: 10.70, 10.50, 6.30.
Also Ran: Arklow, Muggsamatic, Current, Standard Deviation, Eve’s Medal, O Dionysus. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

Pedigree Notes:
Aquaphobia became the third consecutive generation on his dam’s side to add a Grade I victory to his name. Dam Pussycat Doll took down a trio of Grade Is in the mid-2000s and granddam Hookedonthefeelin won the GI La Brea S. in 1999 (which was later one of the races won by Pussycat Doll in 2005). In addition to Pussycat Doll, Hookedonthefeelin also produced 2012 GI Malibu S. winner Jimmy Creed (Distorted Humor). Both mares were also stellar in the sales ring, with Pussycat Doll bringing $2.3 million at the 2007 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky November sale and Hookedonthefeelin bringing $2.9 million at the same sale in 2006. Aquaphobia is by Giant’s Causeway, a star on the track and in the breeding shed, and is one of 192 black-type winners–114 graded–by the late sire. He’s also one of 11 stakes winners out of mares by Real Quiet, including half-sister and listed English winner Forever Popular (Dynaformer). Pussycat Doll’s last reported foal is a juvenile colt by Uncle Mo.

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Elkhorn Winner Zulu Alpha Will Defend His Title In Kentucky Downs’ Turf Cup

Zulu Alpha continues to make a case as America's best turf horse at 1 1/2 miles, his three wins in four starts including the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Turf. Trainer Mike Maker brought the gelding into Sunday's G2 Elkhorn at Keeneland off a 3 1/2-month layoff. After getting squeezed at the start, Zulu Alpha found himself well off the slow pace set by Postulation but closed strongly under Tyler Gaffalione to win by three-quarters of a length.

His next start will be defense of his 2019 victory in the Kentucky Turf Cup at Kentucky Downs, followed by the Breeders' Cup Turf on Nov. 7 at Keeneland, a race in which Zulu Alpha finished fourth last year at Santa Anita.

“He's had his vacation and Mike's handled him phenomenally as far as his development and progression,” said owner Michael Hui. “This was the first step back, and he passed.”

The owner said not to forget Parlor, an $80,000 claim in March who finished second in the Grade 1 Maker's Mark Mile.

“You were about two inches from a Grade 1,” Hui said. “That was a tremendous high watching Parlor take the lead in the stretch…. It was like 'no, no, no!' And Parlor got the perfect bob and still didn't get it. But that bodes well for Kentucky Downs, because his next start will be the Tourist Mile.”

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Canterbury Park Turf Festival Offers $350,000 In Purses On Wednesday

Canterbury Park will run the $100,000 Mystic Lake Derby for the ninth time on Wednesday as the richest race of the Canterbury Park Turf Festival which includes four additional turf stakes and four undercard dirt races. Trainer Michael Maker will attempt to win the one mile turf Derby for the third consecutive time. A top-five trainer nationally in both wins and purse earnings, Maker ships in Angelus Warrior from Kentucky. The 3-year-old colt has won two of six career starts, all on the turf. Angelus Warrior is the 9 to 5 morning line favorite in the seven-horse field.

Maker also saddles Ask Bailey in the $50,000 Northbound Pride Oaks and 5 to 2 morning line favorite Temple in the $75,000 Mystic Lake Mile. Florent Geroux, sixth nationally amongst jockeys in purse earnings, is named to ride all of Maker's entries.

The Mystic Lake Derby, the fifth race on the program, begins the 50 cent Pick 5 wager with an industry low 10 percent takeout. With no stakes racing at other racetracks across the country Wednesday evening, Canterbury officials expect wagering to be robust. Through 16 days of racing, the Pick 5 pool has averaged $85,232 in handle with an average payout of $21,005. On July 1 a track record $85,340 was paid to the winning ticket holder only to be surpassed the following evening when the Pick 5 returned $98,908. The wager requires the participant to select in order the winners of five consecutive races, placing the bet before the first race in the series begins.

The 28th running of the Lady Canterbury Stakes, at one mile on the turf with a purse of $75,000, could include as many as 11 starters, the largest field of the night. Geroux has also secured the mount aboard the 5 to 2 morning line favorite Winning Envelope who is owned by Robert Lothenbach of Wayzata, Minn. and trained by Chris Block. The 4-year-old filly, whose running style usually positons her at the back of the field before advancing late, has won four of 16 career races. She has been stabled at Churchill Downs this spring and summer.

Beach Flower will defend her Lady Canterbury title from the second post position. Canterbury Hall of Fame trainer Mac Robertson has named Roimes Chirinos to ride. The 7-year-old mare won this race and the Minnesota HBPA Distaff, also a one mile turf race, last summer.

Wednesday's other stakes races are the $50,000 Northbound Pride Oaks, the $50,000 Honor the Hero Stakes and the $75,000 Mystic Lake Mile.

Racing continues Monday through Thursday at the Shakopee, Minn. racetrack with a 4:40 p.m. CDT first post each day.

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Turf Veteran Zulu Alpha Closes Out Keeneland Summer Meet With Elkhorn Win

Michael Hui's even-money favorite Zulu Alpha surged past longshot pacesetter Postulation in deep stretch by three-quarters of a length to win Sunday afternoon's 35th running of the $175,000 TVG Elkhorn (G2) for 4-year-olds and up in the final race of the five-day Keeneland Summer Meet in Lexington, Ky.

Trained by Mike Maker and ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, Zulu Alpha completed the 1 1/2 miles on a turf course rated as good in 2:30.82. The victory secured the Summer Meet riding title for Gaffalione with seven wins and gave Maker three winners on the afternoon, including the Kentucky Utilities Transylvania (G3) two races prior with Field Pass.

It was the fourth Elkhorn victory for Maker, who won last year with Bigger Picture with Gaffalione aboard, in 2016 with Da Big Hoss and 2013 with Dark Cove.

Postulation led the field of 11 through unopposed fractions of :25.56, :52.02, 1:18.14 and 1:43.20 as Zulu Alpha raced back in ninth.

Gaffalione began to pick off horses on the far turn and then swung six wide in the stretch for clear sailing at Postulation, who did not give way until inside the sixteenth pole.

The victory was worth $105,000 and improved Zulu Alpha's career earnings to $2,165,114 with a record of 34-12-5-5. Sunday's triumph was the seventh graded stakes victory for Zulu Alpha, who also won the 2018 Sycamore (G3) at Keeneland.

Zulu Alpha is a 7-year-old Kentucky-bred gelded son of Street Cry (IRE) out of the A.P. Indy mare Zori. He paid $4, $2.80 and $2.60. Postulation, ridden by Julien Leparoux, returned $22 and $11.40 and finished 1¼ lengths front of Nakamura, who paid $6.20 to show under John Velazquez.

Jais's Solitude finished another 1¼ lengths back in fourth and was followed in order by Ry's the Guy, Arklow, Oscar Dominguez (IRE), He's No Lemon, Apreciado, Henley's Joy and Hellorhighwater.

TVG Elkhorn Quotes
Tyler Gaffalione: “(Being the Summer Meet's leading rider) feels amazing. I'm so glad to be getting the opportunities that I've been getting.”

How straightforward is Zula Alpha to ride? “He's as easy as they come. He just drops his head and you let him do his thing. He knows where the wire is. He's got some turn of foot.”

Is this one of the more impressive wins that he's had? “He's just keeps getting better and better throughout the year. All credit goes to (trainer) Mike (Maker) and his team. I'm just blessed to be part of it.”

Mike Maker: “After Gulfstream (where he won the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational-G1 and Mac Diarmida-G2 and was second in the Kitten's Joy Pan American-G2), we sent him to the farm again. We got delayed with the virus. Going a mile and a half, you're always a little bit concerned. But even I can't mess this one up.”

What do you map out between now and the fall? “Beginning of the year, our plans got changed a little bit because of the virus. But it was Kentucky Downs and then the Breeders' Cup (at Keeneland).”

Michael Matz, trainer of runner-up Postulation: “We're quite proud of him the way he ran. He's been off for almost seven months. He's no spring chicken, so we were really pleased the way he ran today. It was a shame he couldn't last (on the lead) a little longer, but that's what happens. Sometimes you get beat. But we were really proud of him. He tried hard and didn't give up the whole way. We were pleased with his effort. He's been a good horse for us. He always tries and he does what he can do. That's all you can ask of a horse.”

Graham Motion, trainer of third-place finisher Nakamura: “I was very pleased with the race for him coming off that (eight-month layoff). He is very competitive with these types of horses. He ran like he was fit enough. The (very slow) pace probably did not help us, but winner came from about where we were.”

On Nakamura's next race: “Possibly the Bowling Green (G2) at Saratoga (on Aug. 1) would be an option for sure. (The Breeders' Cup at Keeneland) would be ambitious at this staloage, but never say never. I love the Breeders' Cup.”

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