Michael J. Maker

The son of Michigan-based trainer George Maker has been around the racing business his entire life. He bought his first horse when he was 13 with money he earned from working for his father and delivering newspapers. The horse won his first start. Maker spent 10 years working for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas before opening his own stable in 2003.

During his time with Lukas, he handled a number of standouts, including Cat Thief, Cash Run, Spain, Orientate, Surfside and the 1999 Horse of the Year Charismatic, winner of the Kentucky Derby and Preakness.

Based in Louisville, Ky., Maker has been the leading trainer at Keeneland, Churchill Downs and Turfway Park. He was the trainer of 2011 champion 2-year-old Hansen and has a long list of stakes winners that features Blue Grass winner Stately Victor, Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner Furthest Land, Coolmore Lexington Stakes winner Derby Kitten, Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup winner Kitten's Dumplings, and Secretariat Stakes winner Admiral Kitten.

Maker picked up his third victory in the Breeders' Cup in 2020 when Fire at Will closed with a rush to pass Outadore late and post a 30-1 upset in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf presented by Coolmore America Nov. 6 at Keeneland. He paid $62.40 for a $2 win bet and joined Hansen (2011 Juvenile) and Furthest Land (2009 Dirt Mile) among Maker's victors at the World Championships.