The money will be up for grabs at Sam Houston Race Park Jan. 30 as two undercard races to the $400,000 Houston Ladies Classic (G3), the $200,000 John B. Connally Turf Cup (G3T) and $200,000 Bob Bork Texas Turf Mile drew full fields void of any clear-cut favorites.
Trainer Mike Maker sends a quartet out to Texas to compete in the Connally Turf Cup, with two of those runners exiting the Dec. 24 H. Allen Jerkens Stakes at Gulfstream Park. The third member of the Maker clan, Tide of the Sea, makes his first start since a disappointing effort in the Nov. 20 Red Smith Stakes (G2T) at Aqueduct Racetrack. The 6-year-old son of English Channel has won three of seven starts over the Connally Turf Cup distance of 1 1/2 miles, including a victory in Laurel Park's Japan Turf Cup Stakes three starts back over the opposing Hierarchy. Owned by Three Diamonds Farm, Tide of the Sea became a graded winner last January when he rolled to a front-running score in the W. L. McKnight Stakes (G3T) at Gulfstream Park. Tyler Gaffalione has the call.
The distance-loving Ajourneytofreedom, who has not run a race shorter than 1 1/2 miles since November 2020, enters the Connally Turf Cup off a runner-up effort in the two-mile H. Allen Jerkens. The Hard Spun gelding, claimed by Paradise Farms for $80,000 as a 3-year-old in the summer of 2020 at Del Mar, was a narrow second to Spooky Channel in this race last year after putting in a belated late rally. Joel Rosario will be aboard Sunday.
"He's a deep closer, so the post is really not an issue, said Maker. "This horse always runs a strong race and I have faith that Joel will figure it out."
Unlike Ajourneytofreedom, stablemate Malthael found the two miles of the H. Allen Jerkens a bit too far for his liking and weakened in the final furlong to finish sixth. Claimed by Paradise Farms for a $35,000 tag in June at Belmont Park, the Noble Mission gelding recorded the highest Equibase Speed Figure of his career, 111, three starts back when snaring a 1 1/2-mile allowance contest at Keeneland after a troubled trip. Reylu Gutierrez rides.
"He ran a great race going a mile and a half at Keeneland," said Maker.
Paradise Farms and David Staudacher co-own Ajourneytofreedom and Malthael.
The fourth Maker trainee, Deuce Greathouse's Shady McGee, landed on the also-eligible list.
Maker has won seven of the past ten editions of the marathon grass race.
Taking on the Maker brigade are \high weights Another Mystery, winner of the Nov. 27 Bob F. Wright Memorial Stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots two starts back for trainer Chris Block, and three-time stakes winner Logical Myth.
Earlier on the card, Maker is represented by Three Diamonds Farm and Greathouse's Stolen Base, as well as last-out allowance optional claimer Pure Panic and last-out and maiden special weight winner Grantham in the Texas Turf Mile for 3-year-olds.
The only contender in the field with a graded stakes placing, Stolen Base rallied powerfully in the Castle & Key Bourbon Stakes (G2T) last October at Keeneland, falling three-quarters of a length short of catching Tiz the Bomb at the wire. Stolen Base was then seventh in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T), though only beaten four lengths. With fellow Texas Turf Mile rivals Dowagiac Chief, Chanceux, and barnmate Pure Panic showing speed on the front end, the Bodemeister colt should have plenty of pace up front to set up for his late closing kick.
Geovanni Franco will pilot Stolen Base.
Sam Houston Race Park, Sunday, January 30, 2022, Race 8Entries: John B. Connally Turf Cup S. (G3T)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Conviction Trade (KY) Lane J. Luzzi 118 J. R. Caldwell 20/1 2 2Hierarchy (KY) Corey J. Lanerie 120 Joe Sharp 5/1 3 3Tide of the Sea (KY) Tyler Gaffalione 123 Michael J. Maker 10/1 4 4Strong Tide (IN) Geovanni Franco 120 Michael E. Lauer 12/1 5 5Decision Maker (KY) Marcelino Pedroza, Jr. 120 Thomas L. Van Berg 15/1 6 6Fantasioso (ARG) James Graham 116 Ignacio Correas, IV 9/2 7 7Malthael (KY) Reylu Gutierrez 120 Michael J. Maker 12/1 8 8Logical Myth (KY) Adam Beschizza 123 Joe Sharp 6/1 9 9Another Mystery (IL) Jareth Loveberry 123 Chris M. Block 8/1 10 10Dyn O Mite (KY) Stewart Elliott 120 J. Keith Desormeaux 20/1 11 11Ajourneytofreedom (KY) Joel Rosario 120 Michael J. Maker 7/2 12 12Parrot Head (KY) Ernesto Valdez-Jiminez 118 Jaime Castellanos 30/1 13 13Shady McGee (IRE) Richard E. Eramia 116 Michael J. Maker 30/1 14 14Celerity (KY) Iram Vargas Diego 116 Waylon Cundiff 50/1
Sam Houston Race Park, Sunday, January 30, 2022, Race 6Entries: Bob Bork Texas Turf Mile S.
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Bloodline (KY) Marcelino Pedroza, Jr. 117 Brad H. Cox 12/1 2 2Dowagiac Chief (KY) James Graham 117 Thomas M. Amoss 8/1 3 3Malibu Thunder (KY) Ezequiel Lara 115 Terry Eoff 50/1 4 4Chanceux (KY) Reylu Gutierrez 115 Todd A. Pletcher 4/1 5 5Down Cold (KY) Stewart Elliott 115 Steven M. Asmussen 15/1 6 6Pure Panic (KY) Richard E. Eramia 117 Michael J. Maker 5/1 7 7Stolen Base (KY) Geovanni Franco 115 Michael J. Maker 3/1 8 8Kaely's Brother (KY) Adam Beschizza 122 Brad H. Cox 6/1 9 9Screwball (KY) Ry Eikleberry 115 Karl Broberg 20/1 10 10Grantham (KY) Tyler Gaffalione 115 Michael J. Maker 6/1 11 11Red Run (KY) Joel Rosario 115 Steven M. Asmussen 12/1
