Veteran Bigger Picture Takes Home Elkhorn Stakes
Image:
Description:
Photo: Keeneland/Coady Photography
Bigger Picture runs down the competition in the Elkhorn Stakes at Keeneland
Age is just a number to Bigger Picture.
Making the 40th start of his career April 20 at Keeneland, the 8-year-old Badge of Silver gelding took home the $250,000 Dixiana Elkhorn Stakes (G2T) with a perfectly timed run under Tyler Gaffalione. It was his sixth graded stakes victory and 13th win overall.
After watching Bigger Picture run down Red Knight and 6-5 favorite Zulu Alpha in deep stretch, trainer Mike Maker said he might change wintering tactics with his victor, who came off a seventh in the March 30 Pan American Stakes (G2T) at Gulfstream Park. Before that disappointment, the Three Diamonds Farm runner won his third consecutive running of the John B. Connally Turf Cup Stakes (G3T) at Sam Houston Race Park.
"I think he was compromised last time by a slow pace, but after a few years of him telling me, 'No more Gulfstream,' I think I'll finally listen to him," said Maker, who also trains Zulu Alpha.
Never off the board in three prior starts at Keeneland, including a third in the Elkhorn in 2017, Bigger Picture broke through for his first win in Lexington when he rallied from fifth with a four-wide move off the final turn after rating off the early pace set by Final Copy. After that rival led through fractions of :24.45, :50.31, 1:16.36, and 1:41.85 while Bigger Picture saved ground midpack, Red Knight, Zulu Alpha, and Tiz a Slam moved at the leader as Bigger Picture waited behind horses.
In the stretch, Final Copy and Tiz a Slam dropped out of contention, leaving a duel until just inside the sixteenth pole, when Bigger Picture emerged on the scene to draw clear in the final yards.
"The horse broke good; he put himself in a nice position," Gaffalione said. "We saved ground around both turns. I just followed Jose (Ortiz on Zulu Alpha) when he made his move, and (Bigger Picture) grinded it out. All the credit goes to Mike and his team; they do a fabulous job."
Ortiz said his trip on the favorite was compromised when he had to make his move early.
"He digs in hard. He tried very hard," Ortiz said. "A little premature move on the backside for a mile and a half, but I had no choice. I had to go. I was in my spot, and (Red Knight) came a little early, earlier than I expected.
"That allowed Bigger Picture to go on and make his run. The top three can get a mile and a half, and I've ridden all three of them. They are very good horses and very similar. It just depends on who gets the trip, and today Bigger Picture got the better trip."
Bigger Picture ran 1 1/2 miles on yielding turf in 2:32 flat. Off at odds of 7-1 in a field of 10, he returned $16.60 on a $2 win ticket.
Winner of the 2017 United Nations Stakes (G1T) at Monmouth Park in course-record time, Bigger Picture has won or placed in 14 graded events. His career record stands at 13-7-5, with earnings of $1,646,635. Bred in Kentucky by Ken and Sarah Ramsey out of the Honour and Glory mare Glory Dancer, he raced for his breeders through four starts before he was claimed in the summer of 2014 and had nine outings for various connections before Maker claimed him back again for $32,000 in November 2015.