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Jack Milton mows them all down in Maker's 46

Jack Milton uncorked a last-to-first rally to score his first Grade 1 coup (Coady Photography) Bettors forecast that a son of War Front would earn his first Grade 1 victory in Friday's $300,000 Maker's 46 Mile at Keeneland -- only it wasn't 6-5 favorite Summer Front, but the 9-2 third choice Jack Milton who did the honors. As Summer Front weakened badly down the lane, Jack Milton hit his top stride and stormed clear. Under Javier Castellano, the five-year-old handed trainer Todd Pletcher his third win on the card. Jack Milton is now perfect from two starts on the Keeneland turf, having scored in the 2013 Transylvania (G3) in his only prior local appearance. Since then, the dark bay has often settled for minor awards. During the remainder of his sophomore season, he placed in the Secretariat (G1), Jamaica (G1), Virginia Derby (G2) and Penn Mile. And after a 2 3/4-length decision in the 2014 Poker (G3), Jack Milton endured a four-race losing streak. His best efforts in that span were a third in last summer's Fourstardave (G2) and a fourth in the February 21 Canadian Turf (G3), his comeback from a five-month layoff.

Anchored at the rear early, Jack Milton bided his time about five lengths behind pacesetting Long on Value (Value Plus). The tempo was quick enough for a soft turf course, with fractions of :23 4/5 and :47 2/5. Skyring (English Channel), who was prompting the issue, began to drop back at the six-furlong mark in 1:12. Za Approval (Ghostzapper) then took over the second.

The rail-skimming Summer Front appeared to be in a great spot, especially when Long on Value drifted out leaving the far turn, and offering him a golden opportunity to rally up the fence. But the favorite couldn't take advantage and faded to an uncharacteristic sixth.

Meanwhile, Jack Milton and fellow closer Aripeka (Bernstein) were gaining on the outside. Jack Milton soon emerged as the stronger of the two, drawing off by 2 1/4 lengths in a final time of 1:36 1/5.

Aripeka headed Long on Value for second. A further two lengths back in fourth came Legendary (Exceed and Excel), trailed by Za Approval, Summer Front and Skyring.

Jack Milton, who paid $11.20 to win, improved his mark to 15-5-1-5, $751,161. Bred by Cherry Valley Farm in Kentucky, he sold for $100,000 as a Keeneland September yearling before RNA'ing for $190,000 as a two-year-old in training at OBS March.

A full brother to Grade 3 victress Peace Preserver (War Front), Jack Milton is also a half-brother to the Grade 3-placed pair of Stake (Boundary) and My Rachel (Horse Chestnut). This is the further family of champion War Pass (Cherokee Run) and Grade 1 winners Karlovy Vary (Dynaformer) and Oath (Known Fact), the latter the dam of multiple Grade 3 hero Honest Man (Unbridled's Song).

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