Carl Spackler dominates the Maker’s Mark Mile (Jenny Doyle/Past The Wire)
Shisospicy Sizzles in Limestone
Keeneland Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. – E Five Racing Thoroughbreds’ Carl Spackler (IRE) returned to the races in style with a 4¼-length victory over Integration in the 37th running of the $650,000 Maker’s Mark Mile (G1) for 4-year-olds and up on a chilly Friday afternoon. The margin of victory is the largest in the history of the race, first run in 1989.
With the performance, e Five earned a Keeneland Tray to recognize its eighth graded stakes win at Keeneland as part of the track’s Milestone Trophy Program.
Earlier on the program, Morplay Racing’s favored Shisospicy held off a late charge from Dreamaway to take the sixth running of the $300,000 FanDuel Limestone (L) for 3-year-old fillies.
In the Maker’s Mark Mile, jockey Flavien Prat cut Carl Spackler loose on the final turn. He swept past three runners to quickly open a daylight advantage and cruised to his third Grade 1 victory.
Trained by Chad Brown, Carl Spackler completed the mile over a turf course rated as good in 1:36.56. It is the second victory in the race for both Brown and Prat with the former saddling Raging Bull (FR) in 2021 and Prat, who was aboard Carl Spackler for the first time, riding Chez Pierre (FR) in 2023.
Northern Invader raced out to an early lead with fractions of :23.67 and :48.06 with Silent Heart and Funtastic Again in closest pursuit and Carl Spackler racing fourth and in the clear.
Going into the final turn, Carl Spackler began quickly picking off horses and the Maker’s Mark Mile soon became a one-horse race to the finish.
Making his first start since finishing sixth in the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) Presented by PDJF in November at Del Mar, Carl Spackler kept his Keeneland record perfect having taken the Coolmore Turf Mile (G1) last fall.
Carl Spackler joins Wise Dan (2012-2013) and Perfect Soul (IRE) (2003-2004) as the only horses to win the Turf Mile and come back the following spring to win the Maker’s Mark Mile.
Now a six-time graded stakes winner, Carl Spackler is a 5-year-old son of Lope de Vega (IRE) out of the More Than Ready mare Zindaya. Now 12-8-1-0 lifetime, Carl Spackler picked up $302,250 for Friday’s victory to increase his earnings to $1,910,725.
Carl Spackler returned $3.66, $2.70 and $2.12. Integration, ridden by Frankie Dettori, returned $3.32 and $2.46 and finished 1½ lengths in front of Trikari, who paid $2.98 to show under John Velazquez.
It was another head back to Northern Invader, who was followed in order by Grand Aspen, Funtastic Again and Silent Heart.
Shisospicy Sizzles in Limestone
In the FanDuel Limestone, Shisospicy took the lead out of the gate, maintained it throughout and posted a half-length victory over Dreamaway, who chased in second all the way.
Trained by Jose D’Angelo and ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., Shisospicy covered the 5½ furlongs on a turf course rated as good in 1:03.94. It is the first Keeneland stakes victory for D’Angelo.
Shisospicy is a Kentucky-bred daughter of Mitole out of the Into Mischief mare Mischief Galore. Now 2-for-2 on the grass, Shisospicy improved her record to 5-3-1-1 and increased her earnings to $285,550 with Friday’s $169,725 check.
Before heading back to Florida after the victory, D’Angelo said Shisospicy would be pointed toward the $225,000 Mamzelle (G3) to be run May 10 at Churchill Downs going 5½ furlongs.
Shisospicy returned $6.30, $4.06 and $3.24. Dreamaway, ridden by John Velazquez, returned $9.72 and $6.70 and finished a half-length in front of Abientot, who paid $6.18 to show under Dylan Davis.
It was another nose back to It Ain’t Two (GB) and Me Governor, who finished in a dead heat for fourth with Kilwin, She’s All Charm, Laurice, Afternoon Diva, Mighty Eriu (IRE), Lookatmybuckle and My Lil Punky following in order.
On Saturday, Keeneland will present an 11-race program that begins at 1 p.m. ET and features two stakes: the 37th running of the $650,000 Jenny Wiley (G1) for fillies and mares going 1 1/16 miles on the turf and the 43rd running of the $400,000 Stonestreet Lexington (G3) for 3-year-olds going
1 1/16 miles on the main track.
The Stonestreet Lexington will be the afternoon’s ninth race with a 5:16 p.m. post time followed by the Jenny Wiley at 5:48.
