Godolphin's Master of The Seas (Ire) and Naval Power (GB), the respective winner and runner-up in the Maker's Mark Mile (G1) Friday, are to remain at Keeneland and ship to Churchill Downs, where both could compete in the $1-million Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic (G1), trainer Charlie Appleby said.
The Turf Classic will be run at 1 1/8 miles on turf May 4 on the Kentucky Derby (G1) undercard.
Master of The Seas won the Maker's Mark Mile by 2 1/4 lengths, while making his first start since capturing the FanDuel Breeder's Cup Mile (G1) Nov. 11 at Santa Anita, and tallied his third victory at the highest level. The 6-year-old Dubawi gelding also won the Woodbine Mile (G1) last September.
Naval Power, a 4-year-old Teofilo gelding and Group 2 winner in Dubai whose only other elite level start was a sixth in the 2022 Dewhurst (G1) at Newmarket as a juvenile, closed from last to be a creditable second Friday and could be ready to stretch out.
“(The Turf Classic) would be good for Naval Power to step up to nine (furlongs) off (his second in the Maker's Mark Mile),” Appleby said. “And there is another race the same day at Aqueduct (the Fort Marcy (G2) at a mile and an eighth.”
The second wave of Godolphin invaders will be arriving soon with targets in Louisville and New York.
“Nation’s Pride (IRE) is penciled in for the ($400,000) Man o’ War (G2),” Appleby said of the May 11 race at Aqueduct that would mark the 2024 debut for the three-time Grade 1 winner. “And Legend of Time (GB) is coming for the ($600,000) American Turf (G2) at Churchill (on May 4).”
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