Rhetorical, winner of last autumn’s Turf Mile (G1) at Keeneland, returns to the scene of his greatest triumph for his 2026 debut in the Maker’s Mark Mile (G1) on April 10.
Owned by Gary Barber, Cheyenne Stable, LLC and Wachtel Stable, the now 5-year-old took the winter racing season after being beaten by just two lengths in the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) on Nov. 1. He has been working regularly since early February in anticipation of Saturday’s race.
Rhetorical drew post 1 in the field of 12, with one also eligible. As he has been in all but one of his seven lifetime starts, he will be ridden by Irad Ortiz, Jr. for trainer Will Walden.
This year’s renewal of the Maker’s Mark drew its usual stellar field. Rhetorical will face the likes of Notable Speech (GB), winner of the Breeders’ Cup Mile, multiple Grade 1 winner Deterministic, who is also making his 2026 debut, the always-dangerous Wolfie’s Dynaghost and Zulu Kingdom (IRE), who has won six of eight lifetime starts, nearly all at the graded stakes level.
The Maker’s Mark is the featured 9th race on Saturday, with a post time of 5:16 pm ET.
