Three Diamonds Farm's Bigger Picture will try to become the second horse in the history of the John B. Connally Turf Cup Stakes (G3T) to win the race three years in a row Jan. 27 at Sam Houston Race Park.
Bigger Picture is expected to face eight rivals in the 1 1/2-mile turf test for older horses as he tries to extend his win streak in the race after posting clear victories in 2017 and 2018. The grade 1 winner could join Glen Warren's Candid Glen—who won in 2001, 2002, and 2003—as a three-time winner of the race.
The $200,000 Connally will be the seasonal debut for Bigger Picture, an 8-year-old Badge of Silver gelding who closed out his 7-year-old season with a close runner-up finish in the Hollywood Turf Cup Stakes (G2T) for trainer Mike Maker in November at Del Mar. Since Dec. 31, Bigger Picture has worked four times at Palm Meadows training center, including a bullet five-furlong move (1:02 1/5) Jan. 14.
"He's doing great; ready to go," Maker said.
Jose Ortiz, his winning pilot in both Connally victories, will guide the 4-5 morning-line favorite from post 4.
Bigger Picture's success has added to Maker's impressive run in the Connally; the trainer has saddled the winner in the past five editions. Before Bigger Picture's consecutive wins, Maker won with Da Big Hoss in 2016, Coalport in 2015, and Admiral Kitten in 2014. Maker also won the Connally in 2012 with PaPaw Bodie.
Along with Bigger Picture Sunday evening, Maker also will saddle Three Diamonds Farm's Markitoff, the 4-1 second choice on the morning line. While the 5-year-old Giant's Causeway horse is still looking for his first graded stakes placing, he was competitive at the highest level last year, finishing fourth in the 2018 Northern Dancer Turf Stakes (G1T) at Woodbine. Hall of Famer Mike Smith has the mount.
Other horses below 10-1 on the morning-line include Brad Grady's Team Colors, a grade 3-placed 7-year-old son of Street Cry; and Some in Tieme, a Brazilian-bred son of Shirocco who finished second in last year's Connally. A group 1 winner in South America, Some in Tieme won the 2017 Louisville Handicap (G3T) at 1 1/2 miles on the Churchill Downs turf.
Sam Houston Race Park, Sunday, January 27, 2019, Race 8Entries: John B. Connally Turf Cup S. (G3T)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Zapperini (KY)
Florent Geroux
118
Gregory D. Foley
15/1
2
2Team Colors (KY)
Adam Beschizza
120
Joe Sharp
8/1
3
3Lawless West (KY)
Eddie Martin, Jr.
116
Joe S. Offolter
30/1
4
4Bigger Picture (KY)
Jose L. Ortiz
123
Michael J. Maker
4/5
5
5Net Gain (IA)
Glenn W. Corbett
116
Clinton C. Stuart
15/1
6
6Some in Tieme (BRZ)
Manoel R. Cruz
116
Efren Loza, Jr.
6/1
7
7Budro Talking (LA)
Iram Vargas Diego
120
Mike R. Neatherlin
12/1
8
8Markitoff (KY)
Mike E. Smith
118
Michael J. Maker
4/1
9
9Cooptado (ARG)
Gabriel Saez
116
Thomas Morley
20/1