John Velazquez gains BC mounts from Mike Maker

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Louisville, KY (SportsNetwork.com) - Trainer Mike Maker has secured Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez to ride all three of his mounts in next week's Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita.

Velazquez, who has 12 career Breeders' Cup victories, will ride International Star in Friday's Juvenile Turf along with Vicar's in Trouble in the Dirt Mile and Saturday will be aboard Maker's Thank You Marylou in the Filly & Mare Sprint. Owned by Ken and Sarah Ramsey, all three leave Louisville today for Santa Anita.

International Star won his maiden debut on turf at Belmont Park and finished second on turf on Aug. 22 in the With Anticipation Stakes at Saratoga. The 2- year-old colt has four starts with two wins and two seconds for $190,028.

"I'm not concerned about the turf," Maker said. "It should be a harder turf course so no worries there. He's shown up in every race and I look forward to him doing that next weekend, too."

Vicar's In Trouble has wins this year in the Louisiana and Super Derbies, and is coming off a runner-up effort in the Oct. 4 Indiana Derby. The 3-year-old colt will face older horses for the first time in the Dirt Mile.

"It's always tough taking on older horses for the first time," Maker said. "But then again, he runs his race every time so we figured we'd give him a shot."

Vicar's In Trouble has won four of 10 starts and earned $1,228,292.

Thank You Marylou will also take on older rivals for the first time in the Filly & Mare Sprint. The 3-year-old chestnut filly was third in the Raven Run at Keeneland on Oct. 18.

"She came out of the last race fine," Maker said. "She got stuck on the inside in that last one and she runs a lot better with an outside post position, so hopefully we can get lucky with the draw and be in good shape."

Thank You Marylou won the Dogwood by 6 1/2 lengths at Churchill Downs prior to the Raven Run. She has won three of nine career starts for $300,457.