Annapolis, Ancient Rome Star in $2M Mint Millions

The first stakes offering a $2 million purse in Kentucky Downs history is set as the Mint Millions (G3T) headlines the 11-race Sept. 2 card at the FanDuel meet.

A capacity field of 12 older horses was entered in the Mint Millions, with California-based multiple graded-stakes winner Cabo Spirit  expected to scratch out of Thursday's opening-day $500,000 Tapit Stakes to run for the bigger money. Money talks, and the Mint Millions attracted the entry of British's group 1-placed Ancient Rome , trained by Charlie Hills with European standout jockey Jamie Spencer named to ride. Although based overseas, Ancient Rome is a Kentucky-bred by prominent international sire War Front  .

Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher entered Annapolis , winner of last year's Turf Mile (G1T) against older horses at Keeneland, in what would be a three-week turnaround from the colt's close second in Saratoga Race Course's Fourstardave Handicap (G1T).

With 10 of the 12 entrants being Kentucky-bred the Mint Millions for 3-year-olds and up has huge potential to be:

• America's richest turf race outside the Breeders' Cup World Championships. 
• The second-richest race offered by a racetrack in Kentucky outside the $3 million Kentucky Derby (G1).
• Third-richest in North America, not counting the Breeders' Cup, topped only by the Kentucky Derby and Gulfstream Park's $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) in Florida, both on dirt.
• Of the 14 Breeders' Cup races, only the $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) and $4 million Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) surpass $2 million.

The Mint Millions is the marque feature on the second day of the FanDuel meet, which runs Aug. 31 and Sept. 2, 3, 7, 9, 10, and 13 over the distinctive kidney-shaped course with subtle elevation changes.

Among the favorites for the Mint Millions figures to be the Greg Foley-trained Stitched , winner of the Wise Dan Stakes (G2T) held at Ellis Park.

Kentucky Downs' all-time leading trainer Mike Maker, who finished 1-2 in last year's Mint Millions with Somelikeithotbrown  and Atone , respectively, comes back with Atone and Max K. O.  

Atone kicked off his 6-year-old season by becoming a grade 1 winner in Gulfstream Park's Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes (G1T). Most recently, he faded to last after pushing a strong pace in the 1 1/4-mile Arlington Million (G1T) at Colonial Downs, but Maker is never hesitant to wheel back a horse who is doing well.

 The 7-year-old Max K. O. is 2-for-2 at Kentucky Downs but not against stakes company. The 12-time winner most recently was sixth, beaten a total of three lengths, in the Kentucky Downs Preview Mint Millions at Ellis Park.

Winning the Ellis Park prep to earn a fees-paid berth in the Mint Millions was the Rodolphe Brisset-trained Hozier , who in his prior start was a good fourth in the Wise Dan.

At 8, Gray's Fable  is back for another crack at the Mint Millions. The gelding finished a close fifth in last year's race after winning the prep race at Ellis. He returned to the Kentucky Downs Preview Mint Millions four weeks ago at Ellis, rallying to finish fourth but beaten 1 1/4 lengths.

"Hopefully he breaks a lot better, because that's where he's been getting in a tangle at the gate," said trainer Brian Lynch. "But his (handicapping) numbers have been good and he's been running great. But he's just a horse that seems to have some little gate issues. Hopefully, if he ever gets a clean break and a clean trip, there will be a big difference."

Others entered in the Mint Millions: multiple grade 1-placed Get Her Number  as trainer Peter Miller ships in from California, Saratoga's Lure Stakes winner Smokin' T , Canadian-based Churchtown , and Dhabab .