Spirit of Makena

Spirit of Makena did not compete in his first race until his 4-year-old season, but he made quite the splash with a 2 ½-length win at 41.60-1 odds Aug. 5, 2022, at Del Mar. He next ran second to Holden the Lute in an allowance race when stretching out to a mile later in the meet at Del Mar.

Returning to a sprint distance for his first start of 2023, the Ghostzapper horse won a three-quarter-mile allowance-optional claiming race by 1 ¾ lengths that earned a strong 113 Equibase Speed Figure.

Trainer George Papaprodromou tested Spirit of Makena next in a stakes race and he responded by outfinishing highly regarded Forbidden Kingdom by 1 ½ lengths to win the seven-furlong, $200,500 San Carlos Stakes Presented by FanDuel March 11 at Santa Anita Park.

Making only his fifth career start on May 27, 2023, Spirit of Makena won his second Santa Anita Stakes race in a row, this time with a decisive victory in the Grade 2 $200,000 Triple Bend Stakes at seven furlongs. Sent off as the 4-5 favorite on the tote board in a seven-horse field in the Triple Bend, Spirit of Makena stalked pace setter Forbidden Kingdom through solid fractions and took change at will turning for home and extended to an easy three-length victory in a winning seven-furlong time of 1:23.07.

Spirit of Makena was produced by the winning Gilkded Time mare Win for M’lou.