Lexington, KY (SportsNetwork.com) – Turf specialist Jack Milton went from last
to first in winning Friday’s $300,000 Maker’s 46 Mile at Keeneland.
Trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by Javier Castellano, Jack Milton left
from the outside post in the seven-horse field and settled into last as Long
On Value set the pace.
Making just his second start of the year, Jack Milton went wide around the
final turn to go after new leader Aripeka. Owned by Gary Barber, Jack Milton
surged through the stretch to catch the leaders and go on to post a 2 1/4-
length win over Aripeka with pacesetter Long On Value third.
Completing the order of finish were Legendary, Za Approval, Summer Front and
Skyring.
The time for the Maker’s 46 Mile was 1:36.30 on a soft turf course.
Jack Milton became the first horse to win the stakes succeeding two-time Horse
of the Year Wise Dan who captured the event the last two years. Wise Dan,
however, could not defend his wins as he is still recovering from injury.
Jack Milton went off as the 9-2 third pick in the field behind 6-5 favorite
Summer Front and 4-1 second choice Long On Value. The win was worth $180,000
to bring the 5-year-old’s earnings to $751,161 with five wins in 15 career
starts, all on grass.
Jack Milton began his 2015 season with a fourth-place result in the Canadian
Turf at Gulfstream Park, two lengths behind Long On Value. He is perfect in
two career starts on the Keeneland turf course, having won the Transylvania
Stakes in 2013.
“We thought he ran very well in his last race (Canadian Turf). He had a wide
trip that day in his first start off a (five-month) layoff,” said Tristan
Barry, assistant to Pletcher.
Jack Milton returned $11.20, $6.20 and $4.00. Aripeka paid $10.40 and $4.20,
and Long On Value paid $4.00 to show.
