smooth like strait headlines field of 11 for maker's mile

Cannon Thoroughbreds’ Smooth Like Strait, runner-up in the 2021 FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) Presented by PDJF, headlines a field of 11 horses entered Sunday for Friday’s 34^th running of the $600,000 Maker’s Mark Mile (G1) for 4-year-olds and up to run on the turf course. 

The Maker’s Mark Mile will go as the ninth race on Friday’s 10-race program with a 5:16 p.m. ET post time. First post is 1 p.m. 

Trained by Michael McCarthy, Smooth Like Strait will be making his 2022 debut in the Maker’s Mark Mile and will have regular rider Umberto Rispoli aboard when he exits post position six. An earner of more than $1.4 million, Smooth Like Strait compiled a 7-1-5-1 record in 2021 with his losses coming by less than a half-length. His victory came in the Shoemaker Mile (G1). 

Smooth Like Strait is not the only Grade 1 winner in the field. 

Trainer Paulo Lobo will send Keeneland stakes winners for Bonne Chance Farm and Stud R D I: In Love (BRZ) and Ivar (BRZ). The former won the Keeneland Turf Mile (G1) last fall; the latter took the Shadwell Turf Mile (G1) in 2020. Alex Achard will be aboard In Love from post one, and Joe Talamo is on Ivar from post five. 

The other Grade 1 winner in the field is Agave Racing Stable and Sam-Son Farm’s Count Again, who is coming off a win in the Frank Kilroe Mile in March at Santa Anita for trainer Phil D’Amato. Joel Rosario has the mount from post seven. 

The field for the Maker’s Mark Mile, with riders and weights from the rail out, is: In Love (BRZ) (Achard, 123 pounds), Shirl’s Speight(Luis Saez, 123), Atone (Tyler Gaffalione, 123), Masen (GB) (Flavien Prat, 123), Ivar (BRZ) (Talamo, 123), Smooth Like Strait (Rispoli, 123), Count Again (Rosario, 123), Somelikeithotbrown (Jose Ortiz, 123), Set Piece (GB) (Florent Geroux, 123), Mira Mission (Julien Leparoux, 123) and Public Sector (GB) (Irad Ortiz Jr., 123).