Master of The Seas Back Stateside for Maker's Mark Mile

Godolphin's Master of The Seas  is out to avenge his former stablemate's defeat, as well as make amends of his own, when he lines up April 12 in the $600,000 Maker's Mark Mile Stakes (G1T) at Keeneland.

A year ago, Godolphin attempted to win the Maker's Mark with 2022 Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T) hero Modern Games . The mile contest was to be the 4-year-old opener for the strapping chestnut before he took Europe by storm. However, the game plan fell short when the Dubawi  colt failed to catch Chez Pierre  on a quick turf course. Modern Games went onto capture the Lockinge Stakes (G1) a month later and finish fourth in the Queen Anne Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot before an injury forced his early retirement.

Flash forward to the present, the mighty Godolphin outfit is back in the Maker's Mark with another Breeders' Cup Mile victor (and son of Dubawi) in Master of The Seas. The Charlie Appleby trainee raced once before over the Keeneland turf, finishing a nostril's length behind 2023 champion turf male Up to the Mark   in last October's Turf Mile Stakes (G1T).

"That was a good race and his Breeders' Cup was a very impressive performance, so I think if he runs anywhere near to that form he'll be tough to beat," Appleby assistant Alex Merriam said. "(The Maker's Mark Mile was a) funny sort of race last year; Modern Games was a very good horse. If this fella is as good as him, I don't know, but he's certainly in good form. His rider who gets on him every day is very happy with him. We're looking forward to the race."

Merriam reported that it was unclear whether Master of The Seas would return to Europe for a Royal Ascot bid or remain in the United States after the Maker's Mark, but that a good showing would certainly give the Godolphin team more options for the gelding's 6-year-old campaign. Although his path back to the Breeders' Cup is still uncertain, a return to California to defend his Mile is the inevitable year-end goal.

Elite international jockey William Buick will fly in from abroad to ride Master of The Seas. The pair landed the Mile in addition to the 2023 Woodbine Mile Stakes (G1T) on North American soil. Regularly the go-to rider for Appleby, he also piloted Modern Games to his runner-up finish last year.

Along with the 4-5 morning-line favorite Master of The Seas, Godolphin has another prominent entrant in the Maker's Mark in Naval Power .

The 4-year-old son of Teofilo  won the first four starts of his career as a juvenile before finishing sixth in the Dewhurst Stakes (G1) behind eventual Two Thousand Guineas (G1) winner Chaldean . Naval Power rebounded to take the Jumeirah Classic in Dubai as a 3-year-old but was then sidelined for nearly 13 months. He resurfaced in the Feb. 23 Singspiel Stakes (G2T) at Meydan Racecourse, storming clear to a two-length tally.

"He's had a few issues and things that have kept him off the track but he obviously ran a very nice race out there in Dubai," Merriam said. "He shipped over here well, he seems in good order. It's a step up in here and it'll be interesting to see how he does. It's very much a test to see how he is."

Local rider Tyler Gaffalione, the winner of two grade 1s at the Lexington oval April 6, has the call on Naval Power.

American Challengers

Integration  and Emmanuel  lead the challengers on the domestic front in the Maker's Mark. The former, trained by Shug McGaughey for owners West Point Thoroughbreds and Woodford Racing, dazzled in his first three starts before finishing fifth as the favorite in the 1 1/8-mile Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes (G1T) at Gulfstream Park Jan. 27. Integration will cut back to a mile, the shortest distance he has traveled, in Friday's race.

WinStar Farm and Siena Farm's Emmanuel is more than capable at the mile distance. After netting five black-type victories in grade 3s and a grade 2, he seeks a breakthrough grade 1 win. The Todd Pletcher trainee was seventh in last year's Maker's Mark Mile. He exits a gritty half-length score in his first race since August in the March 2 Canadian Turf Stakes (G3T) at Gulfstream Park.

Rain began to fall in the Lexington area April 9. Occasional showers are forecast to linger through the evening of April 11, potentially leaving less-than-firm ground for turf racing on Friday.