By Christina Bossinakis
LOUISVILLE, KY — Often seen jumping up and winning a race on a big day a square price, trainer Mike Maker did just that, taking the GII Eight Belles S. with William Butler and WinStar Farm's My Mane Squeeze (Audible).
Sent off at odds of 6-1, My Mane Squeeze broke well and was a two-wide fifth as longshot Asternia (Astern {Aus}) cut out an opening quarter in :22.46. Urged forward by Luis Saez, she responded quickly and in a flash was on even terms with the pacesetter leaving the quarter pole. Drifting out even further wide turning for home, she ground clear her nearest pursuer and finished with good energy to best 'TDN Rising Star' Impel (Quality Road) with Asternia hanging on for third. Favored Denim and Pearls (Into Mischief) failed to fire.
“My horse handled the off track beautifully today,” said Saez. “She traveled great the entire backstretch and was in a very comfortable position. You can tell by my silks that they are still clean and I think that helped her down the lane. We stayed out of all the kickback and she got stronger as we got closer to the wire.”
My Mane Squeeze kicked off a three-race win skein in the Oct. 29 Maid of the Mist S. during the Belmont at Aqueduct meeting before adding the Jan. 14 Franklin Square S. at tha venue. A 4 3/4-length winner in the Maddie May Feb. 18, she came home a lackluster eighth in Oaklawn's GII Fantasy S Mar. 30.
“Well we did a lot of schooling at Oaklawn,” added Maker. “She wasn't acting like herself. She was in season in the paddock and she was bad in the gate. That was out of character.”
He continued, “We did some schooling [at Churchill] and it looks like it paid off. Maybe the outside post helped, she wasn't in gate too long. But the previous start just wasn't her. I was happy the way she saddled, and then when she loaded in the gate and she was behaving I was happy, and then the way she broke it was like, we'll see if she's good enough.”
Asked what is next for the 3-year-old, Maker said, “The plan all along has been the [June 7] GI Acorn S., so we'll take it one step at a time.”
Florent Geroux, who was aboard the runner-up, added, “It was a good race for her. She gave it a good try. I don't think the track bothered her. She seemed to be fine on it. I can't be complaining though. I've had a pretty good day today.”
Pedigree Notes:
From the family of Grade I winner Haynesfield, In Spite of Mama is also responsible for MSW and GSP Rotknee (Runhappy)–winner of Thursday's Affirmed Success S. at Aqueduct–and MSP Lookin for Trouble (Into Mischief). The half-sister to stakes winning and graded placed A Freud of Mama (Freud), the 12-year-old mare has an unraced 2-year-old filly by War of Will. She was bred back to Honest Mischief. The filly is the second graded stakes winner for her second-season sire Audible.
Friday, Churchill Downs
EIGHT BELLES S. PRESENTED BY SYSCO-GII, $534,340, Churchill Downs, 5-3, 3yo, f, 7f, 1:22.85, sy.
1–MY MANE SQUEEZE, 118, f, 3, by Audible
1st Dam: In Spite of Mama, by Speightstown
2nd Dam: Mama Theresa, by Carson City
3rd Dam: Nothing Special, by Tejabo
1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. O-William J. Butler and WinStar Farm LLC; B-William Butler (NY); T-Michael J. Maker; J-Luis Saez. $291,400. Lifetime Record: 8-5-0-2, $604,110. *1/2 to Rotknee (Runhappy), MSW & GSP, $640,580; 1/2 to Lookin for Trouble (Into Mischief), MSP, $170,220. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus* Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Impel, 118, f, 3, Quality Road–Your Love, by Flatter. 'TDN Rising Star'. O/B-Juddmonte (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. $114,000.
3–Asternia, 118, f, 3, Astern (Aus)–La Chepis, by Super Saver. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($28,000 Ylg '22 FTKOCT; $90,000 2yo '23 OBSAPR). O-Randy Patterson, Sam. M. Vogel and Randy L. Morse; B-Joe B. Mulholland Jr. & John P. Mulholland (KY); T-Randy L. Morse. $57,000.
Margins: 2, 4 1/4, 1. Odds: 6.92, 4.57, 28.79.
Also Ran: Halina's Forte, Do Gooder, Lady Moscato, Denim and Pearls, Accommodate Eva, Tanya Showers, All Things Go, R Harper Rose. Scratched: Trial.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
#11 My Mane Squeeze swings wide off the turn to storm home and win the Eight Belles Stakes @ChurchillDowns at odds of 6/1!
Jockey: @luissaezpty
Trainer: @trainerMMaker
Owner: William J Butler and WinStar Farm LLC🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/NYvhsXgYA4
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) May 3, 2024
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
