Master Of The Seas Handles Yielding Turf To Lead 1-2 Godolphin Finish In Maker's Mark Mile

"Once the gates open, he’s the kind of horse you can put anywhere you want and you know he’s going to have that finishing kick," said Buick. "He’s so good on fast ground, so we weren’t quite sure it’s very soft (yielding) on the turf (today). But he handled it well and picked up like he would on fast ground. He’s a very good miler.”

“He showed his versatility. I was confident," said Appleby. "When he’s done as much winning as he has over here (in North America) on quick ground, you’re always slightly dubious when the ground is as testing as it is out there today, but he does have past form on slower surfaces. What I liked about it is that they (stablemates Master of The Seas and runner-up Naval Power [GB]) got into a nice rhythm around there. Naval Power unfortunately was a bit slow from the gate. (Jockey) William (Buick) got in a lovely pause for (Master of The Seas). Once they came off the turn, all William needed was that gap to be able to give him the signal to pick up.

“It’s well documented that he’s challenged us over the years, in his young years, with his temperament, just being so highly strung," Appleby continued. "The more traveling he’s done, he’s matured. I was pleased with him in the prelims. I know he got a bit excited once William got on. These horses that ship from Dubai, they have the long flight over here, and we have to have an easy few days, and then unfortunately the weather conditions stopped us from doing probably the normal route we would have done. So the pair of them were fresh enough. I was thinking, I just wish I’d gotten a decent canter into him this morning.

“But anyway, two great rides; William gave us a great ride and (jockey) Tyler (Gaffalione) gave his horse (Naval Power) a lovely ride, so we hope they both have a nice future for the summer here in America, hopefully the pair of them. Master of The Seas might go to Churchill on (Kentucky) Derby day there, and Naval Power might head to Aqueduct, and then they’ll ship up to Saratoga and spend the summer there.”

It was the first start for Master of The Seas since winning the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) Presented by PDJF last November at Santa Anita. It is the third Grade 1 victory for Master of The Seas, who improved his record to 17-9-3-2 and increased his earnings to $2,520,582 with Friday’s $306,125 check.

Master of The Seas is a 6-year-old gelded son of Dubawi out of the Danehill mare Firth of Lorne (IRE).

Master of The Seas returned $3.54, $2.66 and $2.10. Naval Power, ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, returned $4.34 and $3.10 and finished 2¼ lengths in front of Integration, who paid $2.98 to show under Frankie Dettori.

It was another neck back to Shirl’s Speight with Emmanuel and Kubrick following in order.