All In the Family in Maker’s 46 Mile

[Wandering Eyes]

Some eight years ago, Green Lantern Stables’ homebred Karelian (Bertrando) came from just off the pace to score by a little more than a length in the GI Maker’s Mark Mile. The Masson family operation is in line for another victory in the race–now known as the Maker’s 46 Mile–Friday afternoon in the form of Karelian’s homebred half-brother Frostmourne (Speightstown).

A stakes winner at two, the dark bay padded his resume with victories in last year’s GII Penn Mile ahead of a six-length romp in the GIII Kent S. Fourth to ‘TDN Rising Star’ Yoshida (Jpn) (Heart’s Cry {Jpn}) in the GIII Hill Prince S., Frostmourne made a victorious return to action with a one-length optional claiming success at Gulfstream Mar. 16.

Speaking of senior citizens, Hogy (Offlee Wild) is a known commodity in Lexington, albeit at turf sprints, where he has placed three times combined in the GII Shakertown S. and GII Woodford S. But making his 50th trip to the post last time and trying a mile for the first time in 2 1/2 years, the 9-year-old former claimer steamed home to take the GIII Canadian Turf S. by a widening 3 3/4 lengths.

Heart to Heart (English Channel) is the likely speed of the speed in here and also has an admirable record over the course, with an allowance tally and back-to-back runner-up efforts in this event. He earned a richly deserved top-level success last time in the GI Gulfstream Park Turf S. Feb. 10, but will be kept honest by the likes of Om (Munnings) and perhaps the rail-drawn Nileator (Pioneerof the Nile).

“We space his races and he tells us when he’s ready and when he’s not,” trainer Brian Lynch said. “He’s been a lovely, sound horse throughout his career, so we’ve been blessed with that. He’s just a horse that with racing and time and maturity seems to have gotten better and better.”

Ballagh Rocks (Stormy Atlantic), a close fourth in this event last year and third in the GI Shadwell Turf Mile in the fall, is not without his chances, nor is California shipper Next Shares (Archarcharch), who popped a 102 Beyer in a half-length defeat in the GI F.E. Kilroe Mile S. at Santa Anita Mar. 10.

 

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