Master Of The Seas has been near-perfect in his North American conquests, with his only defeat in his prior three starts coming by a nose last year at Keeneland.
The 6-year-old son of Dubai avenged the loss at that track with authority on Friday in the Grade 1 Maker's Mark Mile Stakes, filling out the front half of a Godolphin-homebred/Charlie Appleby-trained exacta in his 2024 debut.
Master of the Seas and stablemate Naval Power were unhurried out of the gate, taking up the two trailing spots in a field of six as Emmanuel grabbed hold of the lead from the rail heading into the first turn.
Emmanuel held off pressure from Kubrick through an opening quarter-mile in :24.38. Jockey William Buick steadily moved Master of the Seas up the rail across the backstretch, and he had his mount in the pocket behind the two leaders as they passed the half-mile point in :49.20.
Emmanuel continued to carry the lead through the final turn and six furlongs in 1:12.89, but he left room on the inside as he entered the stretch. Buick took advantage and steered Master of the Seas to the inside.
Master of the Seas was firmly in command by the final furlong, while jockey Tyler Gaffalione moved Naval Power up through traffic to assume second place. Master of the Seas crossed the wire 2 1/4 lengths ahead of his stablemate, who was another 2 1/4 lengths ahead of late-moving Integration.
Master of the Seas completed the one-mile race in 1:37.10 over a yielding turf course. After steady rains in central Kentucky over the past two days, the Maker's Mark Mile was the only race that wasn't taken off the turf during Friday's card at Keeneland.
The gelding paid $3.54 to win as the post time favorite. This was the first Maker's Mark Mile win for both Godolphin and Appleby.
With Friday's victory, Master of the Seas improved his record to nine wins in 17 career starts for earnings of $2,520,582.
After beginning his career with stints in his native Ireland, as well as England and the UAE, Master of the Seas began racing in North America last September, when he won the G1 Woodbine Mile. He followed up that effort with a runner-up effort by a nose to eventual turf champion Up to the Mark in the G1 Coolmore Turf Mile Stakes at Keeneland, before finishing his 2023 season with a win in the Breeders' Cup Mile by a nose.
Master of the Seas was bred in Ireland by Godolphin, out of the French classic-placed Danehill mare Firth of Lorne.
More must-reads: