As all who are around long enough in this game are aware, Mike Maker is a turf ace, especially so after claiming one, particularly after one run to diagnose what the patient needs.
And whenever he halters an old pro, such as gelded 7YO Chess Master (4-1), asking the owners to pony up $62.500, you know it’s a horse he thinks he can improve.
Chess Master, a winner of 12 of 32 turf sprints in his career, checks those boxes, which includes the Turf Dash Stakes at Tampa in February.
The Florida-bred has had excuses in his last two starts, including his GP return when he was all be eliminated at the break–APR 29, Race 8.
Apparently, the Maker team figured something out. On May 20 he returned to breeze three-eighths in 34-flat, fastest on the day and fastest of 28 peers to work that week at his GP base.
Taking Chess Master to make amends at 7-2 or greater and an exacta box with course-loving Warrior’s Pride (7-2).
