Ole Crazy Bone, out of Schumer Bloodstock mare purchase Southern Gem, returned to winning ways in style for trainer Mike Maker on Saturday, landing the Grade 2 Bowling Green Handicap , the day’s feature event at Saratoga.
Previously successful in last year’s Grade 2 KTDF Kentucky Turf Cup Invitational at Kentucky Downs, Ole Crazy Bone made all under Flavien Prat and had enough in reserve to hold off Fort George at the wire.
“What he’s gone through with his injury [knee chip], to come back I think equally as good as he was last year, very impressive,” said Mike Maker. “[His seasonal debut in May] was more of a ‘get a race into him.’ He ran a winning race, not an optimal distance, but the horse who beat him [Dresden Row] was a good horse and it was a deep, competitive field.”
“I thought I had him, and then he [No. 4, Fort George] came back,” said Flavien Prat. “He was running very well in front. I thought the pace was good. We kind of picked it up early around the turn, I was able to get away from him [No. 4, Fort George] turning for home and he came back late. My horse was there for me.”
Owned by Flying P Stable, the Adena Springs-bred son of Ghostzapper now boasts earnings of over $1.9 million and eight wins.
He is only the second foal out of Southern Gem, a stakes-placed daughter of Smart Strike bought for $120,000 in 2020. The mare has a yearling filly by Yaupon and a colt foal by Forte.
