Mike Maker’s former claimer Headache forged to the front in the late stages of the Grade 2 Hawthorne Gold Cup to narrowly defeat Nick Canani’s colt Where’s Sterling by about ¾ of a length. Now the Bluegrass Stakes winning trainer says the gelding will take on the best the world has to offer in the Breeders Cup Classic at Churchill Downs.

Crazy?

Maybe, but let’s consider that the horse will never get to run for anywhere near $5 million ever again. He has improved vastly this year and dispatched a good field in the Cornhusker Handicap at Prairie Meadows over the summer. Headache loves the track at Churchill Downs too so he’s got that going for him. It wouldn’t shock or surprise to see him pick up third or fourth in America’s richest race.

Mike Maker had this to say to Marcus Hersh of the Daily Racing Form:

“He’s always had a few quirks – making the lead too early, being in front of horses, stringing together a bunch of second-place finishes,” said Maker, who trains Headache for Ken and Sarah Ramsey. “He’s always trained like we were underachieving with him. We feel like we’re getting the best out of his abilities now.”

Where’s Sterling is also considering a trip to Churchill Downs, albeit in a much lesser race; the Breeders Cup Marathon. The colt is getting better all the time and he did win the Grade 3 Iselin Stakes at Monmouth Park two races back. He will be in with a shot if he makes it to that race.

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There isn’t a horse that really jumps off the page when handicapping the Marathon. It looks like the pacesetter is going to be Hawthorne Gold Cup runner up Night Lite. The five-year-old son of Thunder Gulch earned an automatic entry to the race when he won the Turfway Park Fall Championship by 5 3/4 lengths. He earned a BSF of 100 for that effort. Jockey Jon Court will probably retain the mount. I’d love to see Court get a win in the Breeders Cup.

Muhannak will try and defend his title in the Marathon. He enters this race with better form than last year, finishing 5th of 12 in a Group 3 at Ascot last out. He earned a Racing Post Rating of 111 for that try. Depending on the pace situation he should be laying mid pack or towards the rear of the field. His jockey would wise not to strike the lead too early, as he was nearly caught last year.

The nine-year-old gelding Cloudy’s Knight will have a big shot at winning for trainer Jonathan Sheppard. The son of Avie’s Lord has raced just twice this year with wins in the Kentucky Cup Turf, and Sycamore. Both were Grade 3 events.  The old warrior was a Grade 1 winner in 2007, and looks to still have that form. Sheppard is a genius with horses that race at exceptionally long distances and he will have this one ready to run the race of his life.

The three-year-old colts Man of Iron and Mastery both looks tough shipping in from Europe. Man of Iron is a son of Giant’s Causeway and Better Than Honour. Some may recall Better Than Honour as the dam that produced Belmont Stakes winners Rags to Riches and Jazil. She also produced Japanese star Casino Drive. He is certainly bred to win a Breeders Cup race.  Mastery won the Grade 1 St Ledger Stakes last out. He looks to be on the improve and should hold a very strong hand in this race.

Other interesting entries include Black Astor, Father Time, and Sir Dave. Who do you like in the Breeders Cup Marathon?