American Patriot Rallies to Win Grade 1 Maker’s 46 Mile

By Amy Owens —-

American Patriot Wins Grade 1 Maker’s 46 Mile/Keeneland Photo

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American Patriot Rallies to Win Grade 1 Maker’s 46 Mile

Win gives trainer Todd Pletcher record 51st Keeneland stakes triumph

LEXINGTON, KY (April 14, 2017) – WinStar Farm’s American Patriot, seventh at midstretch, caught Heart to Heart in the shadow of the wire to win the 29th running of the $300,000 Maker’s 46 Mile (G1) for 4-year-olds and up by a neck before a Friday afternoon crowd of 24,114.

Todd Pletcher trains American Patriot and the victory was the 51st for Pletcher at Keeneland, pushing him past D. Wayne Lukas for most stakes victories in Keeneland history. (In attached photo are, from left, Pletcher assistant Ginny DePasquale, winning jockey Javier Castellano and Keeneland President and CEO Bill Thomason.)

It was the second victory in the race for Pletcher, who also won in 2015 with Jack Milton.
Javier Castellano notched his third Maker’s 46 Mile victory, having scored with Jack Milton and Get Stormy in 2011.

What a View set the pace under Tyler Baze and led the field of 11 through fractions of :23.25, :47.18 and 1:10.98 with Heart to Heart in closest pursuit.

At the quarter pole, Julien Leparoux sent Heart to Heart after the leader and took command at mid-stretch. Meanwhile Castellano had worked American Patriot into the clear and eventually wore down Heart to Heart, who had to settle for the runner-up spot for the second year in a row.

In posting his first Grade 1 victory, American Patriot covered the mile on a firm turf course in 1:34.70.

The victory was worth $180,000 and increased American Patriot’s earnings to $475,050 with a record of 11-5-0-3. American Patriot broke his maiden here last April with Castellano aboard.

A Keeneland sales alum, American Patriot is a 4-year-old Kentucky-bred son of War Front out of the Tiznow mare Life Well Lived.

American Patriot returned $23, $10.80 and $7.20. Heart to Heart returned $5.40 and $3.80 and finished a nose in front of Conquest Panthera, who paid $13 to show under Robby Albarado.

Ballagh Rocks was another neck back in fourth and was followed in order by Blacktype (FR), What a View, Western Reserve, Inspector Lynley, favored Bolo, Bondurant and Calculator.

Racing continues Saturday with an 11-race program that features four stakes and is highlighted by the 2017 debut of Lady Eli in the $350,000 Coolmore Jenny Wiley (G1). First post time is 1:05 p.m. ET with the Coolmore Jenny Wiley going as the 10th race with a 6:12 p.m. post time.

Cover Photo: American Patriot/Keeneland File Photo

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For more than 80 years, the Keeneland Association has devoted itself to the health and vibrancy of the Thoroughbred industry. As the world’s largest Thoroughbred auction company, Keeneland conducts sales every January, September and November. Its sales graduates dominate racing across the globe at every level. In April and October, Keeneland offers some of the highest caliber and richest Thoroughbred racing in the world. In 2015, Keeneland hosted the Breeders’ Cup World Championships. Uniquely structured, Keeneland is a private, for-profit corporation that returns its earnings to the industry and the community in the form of higher purses, and it has donated millions of dollars in charitable contributions for education, research and health and human services throughout Central Kentucky. To learn more about Keeneland, visit Keeneland.com.