Carl Spackler was the best turf miler in North America last summer and fall, and he absolutely is the best turf miler in North America this spring.
In fact, Carl Spackler delivered a world class performance in his first start at age 5, flying off the turn with a massive turn of foot that propelled him to a 4 1/4-length win in the Grade 1, $650,000 Maker’s Mark Mile on Friday at Keeneland.
Carl Spackler, ridden by Flavien Prat for e Five Racing Thoroughbreds and trainer Chad Brown, won two major turf Grade 1s last season, the Fourstardave at Saratoga and the Turf Mile in October at Keeneland. Carl Spackler might have peaked in the Turf Mile; More Than Looks, beaten in his two previous starts by Carl Spackler, won the Breeders’ Cup Mile, Carl Spackler a non-threatening sixth.
More Than Looks is retired. Carl Spackler has returned with a vengeance.
“Chad and his crew have done a great job getting him ready,” said Bob Edwards, e Five’s principal.
Have they ever.
Funtastic Again broke best and led for a few strides before wide-drawn Northern Invader crossed, cleared, and set a controlled, uncontested pace around the first turn and onto the backstretch. But even with more than six furlongs remaining, Carl Spackler looked like a winner. Prat, replacing injured Tyler Gaffalione in the saddle, had an easy hold on his mount, who traveled sweetly, in the bridle and poised but not pulling at all – spring-loaded, ready to explode.
Fifth to the half-mile pole, Carl Spackler began creeping closer around the turn, took aim at the leaders past the three-furlong marker, and at the five-sixteenths pole inhaled the two still in front of him, Northern Invader and Silent Heart. At the end of the bend, straightening for home, Prat had yet to noticeably move his hands, and Carl Spackler already had the lead. Prat asked and Carl Spackler in the blink of an eye opened four lengths. Game over.
“When I tipped him out, he really jumped on the bridle,” Prat said. “Honestly, when I turned for home, I wondered if I’d moved too soon.”
He had not. Integration, narrowly beaten last out in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Turf, appeared to run his race and finished second, but never got into the same zip code as the winner. Trikari, a 3-year-old Grade 1 winner making his 4-year-old debut, couldn’t come close to quickening with Carl Spackler, nipping Northern Invader for third.
Off a half-mile split of 48.06 over a good course playing slow, Carl Spackler clocked 1:36.56 for his mile, paying $3.66 to his many backers. Behind Northern Invader, Grand Aspen, Funtastic Again, and Silent Heart completed the order of finish. Santorini and Seminole Chief were early scratches.
A homebred, Carl Spackler is by Lope de Vega out of Zindaya, by More Than Ready. The horse recovered from colic surgery in late summer 2023 and had an excellent 4-year-old campaign, winning four of six and nearly $1.2 million. And the way he ran Friday, this year is going to be even better.
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