Maker sends horses to beat in St. Leger

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – The $250,000 American St. Leger, first run five years ago at Arlington Park, was expressly designed to attract overseas runners well suited to longer turf races as well as horses from American trainers who specialize in those races.

No one fits the latter profile better than Mike Maker. Since winning the American St. Leger here last August with Da Big Hoss, Maker has won 25 turf stakes around two turns (or longer) with 16 different horses.

It’s a remarkable record that figures to add some padding Saturday, especially with this sixth running of the St. Leger lacking so much as a single European entrant. The two favorites in a field of eight older horses both hail from the Maker stable, with Keystone for victory (post 1, Julien Leparoux) and Taghleeb (post 2, Jose Ortiz) starting right alongside each other in a three-turn turf race contested at the highly irregular distance of 1 11/16 miles.

It’s difficult to split the Maker duo because both are multiple stakes winners adept at marathon distances. Keystone for victory, owned by Ken and Sarah Ramsey, is more accustomed to winning, having captured four of his last five starts and eight of 15 overall, but Taghleeb, owned by Michael Hui, has kept classier company while amassing a field-high bankroll of $542,273.

The top threats are Applicator (post 6), who gets the dominant jockey at the Arlington meet, Jose Valdivia Jr.; Postulation (post 7, Jorge Vargas Jr.), in off a six-length victory in the Cape Henlopen at Delaware Park; and Bullards Alley (post 8, Irad Ortiz Jr.), a consummate grinder in from Kentucky for Tim Glyshaw.

Three longshots round out the lineup: Crewman (post 3, Carlos Marquez Jr.), Alpha Warrior (post 4, Mitchell Murrill), and Tobias (post 5, James Graham).

KEY CONTENDERS

Keystone for victory, by Shakespeare Last 3 Beyers: 95-91-94

◗ This 4-year-old colt has risen steadily through the class ranks, having accounted for the Claiming Crown Emerald in December on his way to winning the Grade 3 Stars and Stripes under Leparoux here last month.

Taghleeb, by Hard Spun Last 3 Beyers: 94-89-98

◗ Winner of back-to-back turf stakes at the championship meet at Gulfstream last winter, this 6-year-old horse has become a mainstay in this niche and is deserving of his 2-1 morning-line favoritism.

Postulation, by Harlan’s Holiday Last 3 Beyers: 97-90-89

◗ Trainer Eddie Graham pulled a stunning upset in the 2014 Million with Cape Henlopen winner Hardest Core in what remains the lone graded victory for the Pennsylvaniabased horseman.

Bullards Alley, by Flower Alley Last 3 Beyers: 94-94-94

◗ His 13-race losing skein dates to the Grade 3 Louisville Handicap in May 2016, but there’s never a lack of trying from a 5-year-old gelding who has earned $443,631.