Kip shows up the favorite in Maker's Mark

Kip Deville outdueled Showing Up to record his sixth win from seven starts at a mile (Mathea Kelley/Horsephotos.com)

KIP DEVILLE (Kipling) had lost to Showing Up (Strategic Mission) both times

they met last year as three-year-olds, but in Friday's $250,000

Maker's

Mark Mile S. (G2) at Keeneland, he turned the tables on the even-money

favorite. While Showing Up was a bit eager in his seasonal reappearance and

dueled for the lead, the race-fit Kip Deville was a model of patience beneath

Edgar Prado in the early going. Kip Deville then moved up to join the top pair, and after a tussle in the stretch, he subdued Showing

Up by a neck at the wire. The Richard Dutrow-trained gray completed the mile on

firm turf in 1:35 2/5 to post his third straight stakes victory. Dispatched as

the 9-2 third choice, Kip Deville paid $11, $3.80 and $3.60.

"(Dutrow) told

me, 'When the gates open, it's up to you,'" Prado said. "I was able to

settle right behind and bide my time and run down Showing Up at the

end."

Showing Up held the lead as the field passed the stands for the first time.

After floating wide on the clubhouse turn, he surrendered the advantage to Free

Thinking (Unbridled), who slipped through along the rail to take charge through

an opening quarter in :24 3/5. The favorite roared back to press the pacesetter

through a half-mile in :48 3/5, with Kip Deville cruising up alongside. The threesome

matched strides through six furlongs in 1:12. Showing Up never flinched when sandwiched between

rivals, and when it became a two-horse duel through the stretch, he battled on

courageously all the way to the line, but just could not hold off the winner.

The chestnut returned $3.20 and $2.60 for his honorable runner-up effort, ending

the $26.40 exacta.

"There was no speed in the race," Showing Up's rider Cornelio

Velasquez said. "Everyone wanted to take back, and no one went for the

lead. The nine (Kip Deville) wouldn't let up. My horse ran big. He ran

his race."

The 27-1 Purim (Dynaformer) kept on doggedly for third, another half-length

back, to yield $7 and round out the $340.80 trifecta. Bayeux (Red Ransom), the

nearly 3-1 second choice, checked in fourth after being short of room in the

drive, resulting in a 9-8-6-3 superfecta totaling $954.60. Sky Conqueror (Sky

Classic), Remarkable News (Ven) (Chayim), Free Thinking and Storm Caller (Stormy

Atlantic) completed the order of finish. Old Dodge (Brz) (Dodge) was scratched.