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Summer Front seeking elusive Grade 1 in Maker's 46 Mile

Summer Front has been second three times in his last four tries at the Grade 1 level (Aubrey Therkelsen/Equi-Photo) Friday's renewal of the $300,000 Maker's 46 Mile (G1) at Keeneland will have a different feel than recent editions. Dual Horse of the Year Wise Dan (Wiseman's Ferry) was victorious in 2013 and 2014, but has not recovered quickly enough from an injury that cut short his campaign last year. That's not happy news for the legion of Wise Dan admirers in Central Kentucky, but it's very good news for the seven older horses who were entered in the one-mile grass test. A Grade 1 win has proven elusive for Summer Front (War Front), who has compiled a stellar career in turf miles but has fallen short in the big ones. The Christopher Clement charge has finished second three times at the top level since last June, earning silver in the Shoemaker Mile (G1), Eddie Read (G1) and, most recently, the Frank E. Kilroe Mile (G1). Also a close fourth in the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) during that span, he might again be favored to end the jinx Friday.

Long On Value (Value Plus) has shocked fans from coast to coast in recent months. An 11-1 upset winner of the Twilight Derby (G2) on Breeders' Cup weekend last fall, the Bill Mott pupil was along in time to take the Canadian Turf (G3) at Gulfstream Park by 1 3/4 lengths as a 10-1 chance.

Also exiting the Canadian Turf is third-place finisher Aripeka (Bernstein), who narrowly missed in the Appleton (G3) since then, and fourth-placer Jack Milton (War Front), a multiple Grade 3 winner who captured the Transylvania (G3) over this course two years ago.

"This race was one that was on the radar for him," said Tristan Barry, assistant to trainer Todd Pletcher. "We thought he ran very well in his last race (the Canadian Turf). He had a wide trip that day in his first start off a (five-month) layoff."

With rain expected for much of the week in Lexington, Legendary (Exceed and Excel) might be a serious threat. The six-year-old gelding has scored twice on yielding ground since his importation, including an impressive performance in the Knickerbocker (G3) at Belmont in October. He has not been out since November, when he retreated to fifth in the 1 3/8-mile Red Smith (G3) after racing close to the pace than usual.

Za Approval (Ghostzapper), a multiple Grade 3 winner, appears to have lost a step since his strong 2013 campaign. Fourth in last year's Makers 46 Mile, his lone win since then was against overnight stakes company at Belmont in September.

The field is rounded out by multiple Grade 2 veteran Skyring (English Channel), who has been unplaced in all four starts in the past year.

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