Carl Spackler dominant in Maker's Mark Mile

If his performance in Friday's $552,013 Maker's Mark Mile (G1) at Keeneland is any indication of what to expect the rest of the season from Carl Spackler, the rest of the turf miler division will have a hard time keeping up.

Enjoying a perfect stalking trip through the opening half-mile, Carl Spackler made a strong three-wide bid for the lead approaching the stretch and then overpowered his rivals to win by 4 1/4 lengths under Flavien Prat.

"As soon as I tipped him out, he really jumped on the bridle," Prat said. "He was just that good."

Now 2-for-2 at Keeneland having also landed the Coolmore Turf Mile (G1) last October, Carl Spackler covered Friday's test in 1:36.56 over a course rated good. Campaigned by e Five Racing Thoroughbreds and traind by Chad Brown, Carl Spackler paid $3.66.

In a formful edition of the Maker's Mark Mile. The second- through fourth-betting choices finished in that order. Integration earned place honors, 1 1/2 lengths ahead of Trikari, who had a head on pacesetter Northern Invader.

Grand Aspen, Funtastic Again, and Silent Heart rounded out the order of finish.

This was the seventh career stakes win for Carl Spackler, whose others included the Kelso (G3) and Fourstardave H. (G1) last season. Carl Spackler twice defeated More Than Looks last term, in the Fourstardave and Coolmore Turf Mile, but got his revenge in the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) at Del Mar when Carl Spackler finished a flat sixth.

A five-year-old bred in Ireland, Carl Spackler is by Lope de Vega and out of Grade 2 winner Zindaya, by More Than Ready.