In two weeks, Trainer Mike Maker is going to the Kentucky Derby for the first time in his career with two contenders - Stately Victor and Dean’s Kitten.
As the horses approach the starting gate, Maker has demonstrated the ability to upset the odds and draw hidden talent from a horse.
Although Maker is a new face at the Kentucky Derby, he has maintained his own racing stable since 2003 and spent his life around race horses.
Growing up in Michigan, Maker’s father was a trainer and the family raced horses at Hazel Park and Detroit Race Course.
At age thirteen, he purchased his first horse with money he had saved from delivering newspapers and hot walking horses at the track. When the horse won its’ first start, Maker found his fate in life.
From his first horse at age thirteen, Maker has maintained his dream of winning the Kentucky Derby. With two contenders in the gate, he might beat the hardest odds in history.
However, if his history indicates anything, it shows that Maker isn’t afraid to put his faith in a long shot.
They have rewarded him plenty.
Stately Victor: The Longest Odds in the Bluegrass.
When Stately Victor set foot on the track at Keeneland to run the Bluegrass Stakes, many bettors had written him off as being outclassed after glancing at his past performance record.
In seven career starts, his sole win came in his maiden victory. The racing program descriptors for his remaining races fell along the lines of “tired” and “no threat.”
He certainly didn’t garner much fan fare at the gate.
His co-owners, Jack and Tom Conway, barely held a poker face for Stately Victor. When Jack learned that his father, Tom, had entered the horse in the race, he reportedly responded, “Really?”
His racing record didn’t exactly harvest enthusiasm.
To the surprise of many, Stately Victor had his own agenda that day.
As he blazed down the stretch in an authoritative 4 ¼ length victory, the horse became the biggest long shot to win the Bluegrass in its’ 86-year history.
In the same moment, Stately Victor claimed his spot in the Kentucky Derby.
After the Bluegrass, Maker responded to the upset with a testament to his faith in Stately Victor. “After a while, when a horse underachieves, you kinda forget about him. But I never quit believing in this horse.”
Dean’s Kitten: The Other Side of the Gate.
On March 27, Dean’s Kitten stepped onto the track at Turfway Park with odds of 6-1 in the Lane’s End Stakes. As he paraded toward the gates, the betting public focused much of its’ attention on Connemara, the 8-5 favorite, and Northern Giant, the second choice in the race.
Like Stately Victor, Dean’s Kitten didn’t arouse strong enthusiasm as he marched past the stands.
The owners, Ken and Sarah Ramsey, were across the world for the Dubai World Cup when Dean’s Kitten entered the gates. In Dubai, the Ramseys were watching their horse, Furthest Land, compete in the 14-horse field.
The horse ultimately finished dead last.
In their place, the Ramseys sent their son and daughter-in-law, Jeff and Patricia Ramsey, to watch Dean’s Kitten ride in the Lane End Stakes.
Prior to the Lane’s End Stakes, Dean’s Kitten had made ten career starts and produced only two wins – including his maiden victory.
Similar to Stately Victor, Dean’s Kitten’s racing record was checkered with such descriptors as “no menace” and “no factor.”
When the gates sprung open in the Lane’s End, Dean’s Kitten covered the 1 1/8 mile distance in 1:50:59. With Northern Giant and Connemara trailing respectively in second and third place, Dean’s Kitten won the race in an impressive 2 ½ length victory.
As Dean’s Kitten headed toward the winner’s circle, Ken and Sarah Ramsey had just learned that their home-bred horse had secured a position in the Kentucky Derby.
This was no small moment.
Despite winning more races than any other owners at Churchill Downs, Ken Ramsey has never had a horse win the Kentucky Derby. Ramsey has been said to joke that he wants to “get into that other winner’s circle,” referring to the sacred ground at Churchill Downs that is reserved solely for the Derby winner.
Standing in the winner’s circle at Turfway Park with Dean’s Kitten, Jeff and Sarah Ramsey received a cell phone call from Ken Ramsey in Dubai.
When Sarah picked up, she responded, “We’re busy taking a photo!”
As the trophy was presented, two couples – in two different continents - smiled with excitement.
In a post-race interview, Maker explained, “We pointed to this race in it paid off for us.”
It sure did.
With two horses starting in the Kentucky Derby, Maker’s faith in the talent of his horses has paid him much success.
In a recent interview, Maker answered my questions about the two Kentucky Derby contenders as they head toward the starting gates.
JW: How does it feel to go the Kentucky Derby for the first time in your training career?
MM: I feel very blessed to make it to the Kentucky Derby. It’s also a feeling of accomplishment because each horse earned their way. It has been a lifelong dream to win the Kentucky Derby.
JW: You currently have two horses expected to start in the Kentucky Derby. Did you ever imagine you would have two starters in your first trip to the Kentucky Derby?
MM: I have imagined having more starters, actually. As a child, I kinda dreamt of having the whole field.
JW: In regard to Dean’s Kitten, what do you see as the strengths in this horse?
MM: Dean’s Kitten’s greatest strength will be his ability to handle a 1 ¼ mile race. He has no distance limitations.
JW: How would you describe the general temperament of Dean’s Kitten?
MM: Dean’s Kitten is a very laid back horse. He’d make a lazy work horse.
JW: In regard to Stately Victor, what do you see as the strengths in this horse?
MM: Stately Victor is just like a pretty girl - when he goes by, you can’t help but look. He always trains impressively and has a great big stride.
JW: How would you describe the general temperament of Stately Victor?
MM: He can be a bit of a show off when he’s playing - jumping on his hind legs. But, when it comes down to race time, he is a complete gentleman.
JW: From a young age, you dreamed of winning the Kentucky Derby. What makes the Kentucky Derby so special for you?
MM: The Derby is a special race for me because of all the history.
No matter where I go, if someone asks what I do, they ask if I have won the Kentucky Derby or ran in it. It’s their way of relating to what I do.
It is also special because I grew up watching it and was a horseracing fan as a child.
I don’t care for Dean’s Kitten at all but Stately Victor looks like he might be the real deal. He probably isn’t ready to win the Derby and I’m inclined to think he won’t hit the top three but I could see him getting 6th-4th place. He looked stunning in his last win.
Thanks for the comment, Brian. It’s always great to hear your take on handicapping! I’m still holding all bets until Kentucky Derby day, but Stately Victor is definately going into my picks. (I like him. The Bluegrass was such an impressive win.)