Wide-Open Fields in Connally Turf Cup, Texas Turf Mile

The money will be up for grabs at Sam Houston Race Park Jan. 30 as two undercard races to the $400,000 Houston Ladies Classic (G3), the $200,000 John B. Connally Turf Cup (G3T) and $200,000 Bob Bork Texas Turf Mile drew full fields void of any clear-cut favorites.

Trainer Mike Maker sends a quartet out to Texas to compete in the Connally Turf Cup, with two of those runners exiting the Dec. 24 H. Allen Jerkens Stakes at Gulfstream Park. The third member of the Maker clan, Tide of the Sea , makes his first start since a disappointing effort in the Nov. 20 Red Smith Stakes (G2T) at Aqueduct Racetrack. The 6-year-old son of English Channel has won three of seven starts over the Connally Turf Cup distance of 1 1/2 miles, including a victory in Laurel Park's Japan Turf Cup Stakes three starts back over the opposing Hierarchy . Owned by Three Diamonds Farm, Tide of the Sea became a graded winner last January when he rolled to a front-running score in the W. L. McKnight Stakes (G3T) at Gulfstream Park. Tyler Gaffalione has the call.

The distance-loving Ajourneytofreedom , who has not run a race shorter than 1 1/2 miles since November 2020, enters the Connally Turf Cup off a runner-up effort in the two-mile H. Allen Jerkens. The Hard Spun   gelding, claimed by Paradise Farms for $80,000 as a 3-year-old in the summer of 2020 at Del Mar, was a narrow second to Spooky Channel  in this race last year after putting in a belated late rally. Joel Rosario will be aboard Sunday.

"He's a deep closer, so the post is really not an issue, said Maker. "This horse always runs a strong race and I have faith that Joel will figure it out."

Unlike Ajourneytofreedom, stablemate Malthael  found the two miles of the H. Allen Jerkens a bit too far for his liking and weakened in the final furlong to finish sixth. Claimed by Paradise Farms for a $35,000 tag in June at Belmont Park, the Noble Mission  gelding recorded the highest Equibase Speed Figure of his career, 111, three starts back when snaring a 1 1/2-mile allowance contest at Keeneland after a troubled trip. Reylu Gutierrez rides.

"He ran a great race going a mile and a half at Keeneland," said Maker. 

Paradise Farms and David Staudacher co-own Ajourneytofreedom and Malthael.

The fourth Maker trainee, Deuce Greathouse's Shady McGee , landed on the also-eligible list.

Maker has won seven of the past ten editions of the marathon grass race.  

Taking on the Maker brigade are \high weights Another Mystery , winner of the Nov. 27 Bob F. Wright Memorial Stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots two starts back for trainer Chris Block, and three-time stakes winner Logical Myth .

Earlier on the card, Maker is represented by Three Diamonds Farm and Greathouse's Stolen Base , as well as last-out allowance optional claimer Pure Panic  and last-out and maiden special weight winner Grantham  in the Texas Turf Mile for 3-year-olds.

The only contender in the field with a graded stakes placing, Stolen Base rallied powerfully in the Castle & Key Bourbon Stakes (G2T) last October at Keeneland, falling three-quarters of a length short of catching Tiz the Bomb  at the wire. Stolen Base was then seventh in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T), though only beaten four lengths. With fellow Texas Turf Mile rivals Dowagiac Chief , Chanceux , and barnmate Pure Panic showing speed on the front end, the Bodemeister   colt should have plenty of pace up front to set up for his late closing kick.

Geovanni Franco will pilot Stolen Base.

Entries: John B. Connally Turf Cup S. (G3T)

Sam Houston Race Park, Sunday, January 30, 2022, Race 8

• Grade IIIT
• 1 1/2m
• Turf
• $200,000
• 4 yo's & up
• 5:23 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Conviction Trade (KY)	Lane J. Luzzi	118	J. R. Caldwell	20/1
2	2Hierarchy (KY)	Corey J. Lanerie	120	Joe Sharp	5/1
3	3Tide of the Sea (KY)	Tyler Gaffalione	123	Michael J. Maker	10/1
4	4Strong Tide (IN)	Geovanni Franco	120	Michael E. Lauer	12/1
5	5Decision Maker (KY)	Marcelino Pedroza, Jr.	120	Thomas L. Van Berg	15/1
6	6Fantasioso (ARG)	James Graham	116	Ignacio Correas, IV	9/2
7	7Malthael (KY)	Reylu Gutierrez	120	Michael J. Maker	12/1
8	8Logical Myth (KY)	Adam Beschizza	123	Joe Sharp	6/1
9	9Another Mystery (IL)	Jareth Loveberry	123	Chris M. Block	8/1
10	10Dyn O Mite (KY)	Stewart Elliott	120	J. Keith Desormeaux	20/1
11	11Ajourneytofreedom (KY)	Joel Rosario	120	Michael J. Maker	7/2
12	12Parrot Head (KY)	Ernesto Valdez-Jiminez	118	Jaime Castellanos	30/1
13	13Shady McGee (IRE)	Richard E. Eramia	116	Michael J. Maker	30/1
14	14Celerity (KY)	Iram Vargas Diego	116	Waylon Cundiff	50/1

Entries: Bob Bork Texas Turf Mile S.

Sam Houston Race Park, Sunday, January 30, 2022, Race 6

• STK
• 1m
• Turf
• $200,000
• 3 yo
• 4:23 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Bloodline (KY)	Marcelino Pedroza, Jr.	117	Brad H. Cox	12/1
2	2Dowagiac Chief (KY)	James Graham	117	Thomas M. Amoss	8/1
3	3Malibu Thunder (KY)	Ezequiel Lara	115	Terry Eoff	50/1
4	4Chanceux (KY)	Reylu Gutierrez	115	Todd A. Pletcher	4/1
5	5Down Cold (KY)	Stewart Elliott	115	Steven M. Asmussen	15/1
6	6Pure Panic (KY)	Richard E. Eramia	117	Michael J. Maker	5/1
7	7Stolen Base (KY)	Geovanni Franco	115	Michael J. Maker	3/1
8	8Kaely's Brother (KY)	Adam Beschizza	122	Brad H. Cox	6/1
9	9Screwball (KY)	Ry Eikleberry	115	Karl Broberg	20/1
10	10Grantham (KY)	Tyler Gaffalione	115	Michael J. Maker	6/1
11	11Red Run (KY)	Joel Rosario	115	Steven M. Asmussen	12/1