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Cross Border and Dante's Fire a strong one-two punch for Maker in $85K Lubash

by Keith McCalmont

Three Diamonds Farm's graded-stakes placed Cross Border leads a strong pair of contenders for trainer Mike Maker along with Dante's Fire in Wednesday's inaugural $85,000 Lubash, a 1 1/16-mile turf test for older New York-breds at Saratoga Race Course.

Cross Border, a 6-year-old English Channel ridgling, boasts a record of 24-7-5-1 with purse earnings of $350,021. He launched his career at Woodbine Racetrack with trainer Robert Tiller, but following a year off and a shift to Maker's barn Cross Border has won 4-of-10 starts, and shown grit and determination in graded races including a last-out fifth, defeated one length to Instilled Regard in the Grade 1 Manhattan on July 4 at Belmont Park.

"He had an injury and had some time off, but he came back really well," said Maker. "The Manhattan was a good effort. He ran his race as he always does."

Bred in the Empire State by Berkshire Stud and B.D. Gibbs, Cross Border was fifth in the Grade 1 Turf Classic Invitational at Belmont in October, sixth in the Grade 2 Fort Lauderdale at Gulfstream Park in December and second, defeated a neck by Spooky Channel, in the Grade 3 W. L. McKnight at Gulfstream in January.

Cross Border was perfect in three Saratoga starts last summer, besting open allowance company at 1 1/16-miles before topping fellow New York-breds in nine-furlong turf events.

Maker said Cross Border is in good order for his return to the Spa.

"He's doing good and everything is well," said Maker. "It's Saratoga, so I'm assuming it will be a very competitive race. I'd prefer him on the pace."

William J. Butler's homebred Dante's Fire, a sophomore son of Temple City, will make his stakes debut. The late-running gelding graduated in November on the Big A turf to close out his juvenile campaign. Following a fourth on June 7 at Belmont in his seasonal debut, Dante's Fire rallied from eighth - 18 lengths off the pace - to secure a three-length win.

"He ran a solid race last time, the pace was strong," said Maker "He's a 3-year-old and I thought why not give him a shot here."

Jose Ortiz will guide Cross Border from the inside post and Dante's Fire will emerge from post 4 under returning rider Irad Ortiz, Jr.

Repole Stable homebred Blewitt, a 6-year-old Uncle Mo horse, will make his turf debut for trainer Todd Pletcher.

The lightly raced bay boasts a record of four wins and three seconds from 11 career starts, including a five-length win in an April optional-claiming route at Gulfstream Park that garnered a lofty 94 Beyer Speed Figure. Last out, in the one-turn mile Commentator on June 12 at Belmont, Blewitt set the early pace under Hall of Famer John Velazquez and finished fourth, defeated two lengths by Funny Guy.

Blewitt, who worked a swift half-mile in 48.55 seconds on June 28 on Belmont's inner turf, will exit post 6 under Velazquez.

Rounding out the field are The J Y [post 3, Manny Franco] and Rapt [post 5, Dylan Davis]. Yankee Division is entered for the main-track only.

The Lubash, named for the multiple New York-bred turf champion campaigned by trainer Christophe Clement and owner-breeder Leonard Pivnic, is slated as Race 3 on Wednesday's 10-race card. First post is 12:50 p.m. with the $55,000 Jonathan Kiser Novice steeplechase to kick off the card. Saratoga Live will present daily television coverage of the 40-day summer meet on FOX Sports and MSG Networks. For the complete Saratoga Live broadcast schedule, and additional programming information, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule.

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