Maker Savors Gold Cup Win; Considers Classic Run

It’s No Joke Could be Breeders’ Cup Bound

Trainer Rebecca Maker reports that Hawthorne Gold Cup upsetter It’s No Joke came back out of the race in good shape, and that the connections are considering options for the 4-year-old son of Distorted Humor.

“He left on the van a couple hours after the race (Gold Cup) and is back at Keeneland safe and sound,” Maker said. “It was my first graded stakes win, and right now I’m just savoring it. I feel like my career has reached another level.”

Maker entered It’s No Joke in both the $350,000 Grade II Kentucky Cup Classic and the $500,000 Grade II Hawthorne Gold Cup, but it wasn’t until Friday that she decided to send the son of Distorted Humor to Chicago.

It was the right call.

Well placed throughout, the 4-year-old colt colt overtook pacesetter Flamethrowintexan turning for home and held off a mild late rally from the favored A. P. Arrow to win the Grade II race by a length under veteran Chicago jockey Eusebio Razo Jr. The team completed the ten furlong journey in 2:03.89.

The victory was the fourth in nine starts this year for It’s No Joke and the $300,000 winner’s share more than doubled his bankroll to $545,658 for his owner Stan E. Fulton. His overall record improved to six wins from 14 starts.

“It’s too early to tell what we’re going to do next,” Maker said. “He just ran yesterday, and we want to see how he responds the next few days.”

Maker did hint that the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic to be held on Saturday, November 4, at Churchill Downs could be a part of the plan.

“He’s undefeated at Churchill (three for three), so if he’s doing real well and we feel like the horse fits against the competition he would have to face, then we’ll try it (the Classic),” Maker said. “He’s a nice horse, but we’re not going to run just because we have the license to do so.”

The 2006 fall Thoroughbred meet at Hawthorne Race Course runs September 15 through January 1 with live racing five days per week – Wednesday through Sunday (except Nov. 23). The dark days are Monday and Tuesday (except Oct. 9 and Jan.1). Post time on Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday is 1:10 p.m. Friday post time through November 17 is 3 p.m., at which time it will revert back to 1:10 p.m. for the remainder of the meet.

Hawthorne’s races can be seen live on Horse Racing Television (HRTV). HRTV provides full, in-depth coverage of the current Hawthorne Race Course meeting, with complete post parades, and expert analysis from the network's hosts.

Hawthorne’s spring 2007 Thoroughbred meet will run February 23 thru May 3. The summer 2007 Standardbred meet will be held June 22 thru August 5. The fall 2007 Thoroughbred meet will run September 17 thru December 31.

For more information visit www.hawthorneracecourse.com.