Maker Trio, Sadler's Joy Headline Sword Dancer

Demonstrating the depth of his turf stable, trainer Mike Maker is keeping star Zulu Alpha in his barn this weekend, and he is still running three contenders Au.g 29 in the $500,000 Sword Dancer Stakes (G1T) at Saratoga Race Course.

While Zulu Alpha awaits a title defense in the $1 million Calumet Farm Kentucky Turf Cup (G3T) at Kentucky Downs Sept. 12, Aquaphobia, Marzo, and Cross Border give Maker three chances to win the 1 1/2-mile turf test for the first time. Though all three are former claimers, each possesses the current form to suggest they could threaten.

Aquaphobia was a stalking-trip winner of the July 18 United Nations Stakes (G1T) at Monmouth Park, and stablemates Cross Border and Marzo were first and fifth, respectively, in the Aug. 1 Bowling Green Stakes (G2T) at Saratoga. Cross Border carved out the pace in the latter race, while Cross Border rallied late, hitting the wire in second before earning the victory upon the disqualification of Sadler's Joy for interference.

"He's as hickory as they come, his third start at the meet. He's doing well and looks super," Maker said of Three Diamonds Farm's Cross Border, a 6-year-old son of English Channel .

Jose Ortiz returns aboard Cross Border, and his brother, Irad Ortiz Jr., is named on Aquaphobia.

A 7-year-old horse by Giant's Causeway owned by the partnership of Paradise Farms, David Staudacher, Hooties Racing, and Skychai Racing, Aquaphobia continues to please Maker with his progress.

"He makes a fabulous appearance after the United Nations, and I expect a similar, if not better, effort from him on Saturday," he said.

The least fancied of the Maker trio on the odds board is likely to be Marzo, another Three Diamonds-owned runner, though he too has the potential to win with his best. He captured the Sycamore Stakes (G3T) last fall and was beaten just 2 1/4 lengths in the 1 3/8-mile Bowling Green after running off to a five-length lead before fading.

"I think he'll be the controlling speed and be tough to run down," Maker said of the 5-year-old Medaglia d'Oro  gelding, who has Ricardo Santana Jr. up.

Woodslane Farm's Sadler's Joy will make his fourth appearance in the Sword Dancer for trainer Tom Albertrani. The 7-year-old Kitten's Joy  horse won this race in 2017, finished sixth in 2018, and last year rallied to finish second, a neck behind Annals of Time.

He drifted inward under right-handed urging from jockey Javier Castellano in the Bowling Green, leading to his disqualification. He carries just 118 pounds Saturday, six less than Aquaphobia and two less than Cross Border.

The wildcard in the Sword Dancer is Al Shahania Stud America's Pedro Cara, a 4-year-old son of Pedro the Great who ran third in the H.H. The Amir Trophy (G1) in Qatar. He also ran a close second last fall in the Jockey Club Derby Invitational Stakes at Belmont Park.

"He didn't get over here until the summer and he had a bit of a foot issue when he got over here, but he hasn't missed a beat since we started breezing him," trainer Graham Motion said.

Hall of Famer John Velazquez rides.

Highland Sky, Channel Maker, and Corelli complete a well-matched field that goes as the ninth race at 5:43 p.m. ET. The race is a Breeders' Cup Challenge event for the Nov. 7 Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) at Keeneland.

Entries: Sword Dancer S. (G1T)

Saratoga Race Course, Saturday, August 29, 2020, Race 9

• Grade I
• 1 1/2m
• Inner turf
• $500,000
• 4 yo's & up
• 5:43 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Highland Sky (KY)	Junior Alvarado	118	Barclay Tagg	12/1
2	2Aquaphobia (KY)	Irad Ortiz, Jr.	124	Michael J. Maker	4/1
3	3Marzo (KY)	Ricardo Santana, Jr.	118	Michael J. Maker	10/1
4	4Channel Maker (ON)	Manuel Franco	122	William I. Mott	6/1
5	5Corelli (KY)	Joel Rosario	118	Jonathan Thomas	6/1
6	6Cross Border (NY)	Jose L. Ortiz	120	Michael J. Maker	3/1
7	7Pedro Cara (FR)	John R. Velazquez	120	H. Graham Motion	10/1
8	8Sadler's Joy (KY)	Javier Castellano	118	Thomas Albertrani	5/2