Seven in Maker's 46 Mile Looking for Grade I

Class handicappers won't find much of a toehold going into this year's Maker's 46 Mile Stakes (gr. IT) on Friday, April 10 at Keeneland, as all seven starters are looking for their initial victory at the top level.

With two-time Horse of the Year Wise Dan, the winner of the two previous editions of the Maker's 46, on the comeback trail from injury and being pointed to a return to the races later this season, the only certainty in this year's edition of the $300,000 race for older horses is that someone will score their first career grade I/group I victory.

NOVAK: Wise Dan Making Progress, Still Tack-Walking

Not that many of these horses haven't been knocking on the door, including likely favorite Summer Front. Waterford Stable's Summer Front enters Friday's race off a runner-up finish in the Frank E. Kilroe Mile Stakes (gr. IT) March 7 at Santa Anita Park and the son of War Front   boasts seven stakes wins—all on turf—including a victory in last year's Fort Lauderdale Stakes (gr. IIT) at Gulfstream Park.

Still, Summer Front has lost his previous six starts dating back to the Fort Lauderdale, including three races in that stretch where the Christophe Clement-trainee was favored.

Live Oak Plantation homebred Za Approval will be making his debut for trainer Mark Casse, after previously being trained by Clement. The 7-year-old Ghostzapper   gelding will be looking to snap a four-race losing streak but boasts top efforts that include three graded stakes wins and a runner-up finish to Wise Dan in the 2013 Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT).

Za Approval finished fourth in the recent Kilroe Mile.

As for a horse entering in top form, Wachtel Stable and George Kerr's Long On Value has won three of his past four starts and the son of Value Plus enters off a clear vicory in the Canadian Turf Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Gulfstream.