By J. Keeler Johnson ("Keelerman") Twitter: @J_Keelerman
One of the best races on the
second week of the Keeneland spring meet is Friday's $600,000 Maker's Mark Mile
(G1), a one-mile turf test that features a heavy favorite in the form of #4 Master of The Seas (4-5).
The credentials of Master of
The Seas are impressive. He's won stakes around the world—in England, in Dubai,
in the United States. A three-race stateside campaign last fall yielded stellar
results; he dominated the Woodbine Mile (G1) by 3 3/4 lengths, finished second
by a nose to champion Up to the Mark in the Keeneland Turf Mile (G1), and then
rallied from out of the clouds to win the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1).
In the Breeders' Cup Mile, Master
of The Seas was racing in 11th place with a furlong remaining, but by running
his final furlong in something like :10.60 (wow!) he got up to beat British
classic winner Mawj by a nose in 1:32.45. It was a terrific performance, hence
his 4-5 odds for the Maker's Mark Mile.
But is Master of The Seas
unbeatable while starting 2024 in the Maker's Mark Mile? There are a couple of
reasons to believe the Charlie Appleby-trained six-year-old might be
vulnerable. For starters, there aren't any definite speed horses in the Maker's
Mark Mile field, so a modest pace may unfold. When Master of The Seas won the
Breeders' Cup Mile, he benefited from closing ground into fast early fractions
of :22.16, :45.37, and 1:09.12; the fractions could easily be two to three
seconds slower at Keeneland.
For another, there's a
chance Master of The Seas will be a bit rusty in his first start off the
layoff. In 2022, Appleby saddled Woodbine Mile winner Modern Games to deliver
an impressive stretch-running victory in the Breeders' Cup Mile. Five months
later, Modern Games made his 2023 debut as an odds-on favorite in the Maker's
Mark Mile, where he failed to bring his A-game and settled for second place.
Benefiting from that comeback effort, Modern Games won England's Lockinge (G1)
in his second start of 2023.
Perhaps Master of The Seas
is talented enough to win the Maker's Mark Mile with something less than his
absolute best, even if he encounters a slower pace than in the Breeders' Cup
Mile. But he's facing some talented rivals in the Maker's Mark Mile, and I
believe #8 Integration (9-2) is
capable of springing a surprise.
Integration showed immense
talent as a three-year-old last season, going 3-for-3 while conquering quality
competition. After obliterating a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight at Colonial
Downs by 6 1/2 lengths, he took the 1 18-mile Virginia Derby (G3) over the same
course, defeating Saratoga Derby (G1) and Hollywood Derby (G1) winner Program
Trading by 1 1/4 lengths. The third-place finisher, Runaway Storm, further
flattered the form by returning to win the Bryan Station (G3) in his next
start.
Integration wrapped up 2023
with an awesome performance in the 1 1/8-mile Hill Prince (G2) at Aqueduct.
After tracking the pace from third place, he seized command and rocketed his
final furlong in :10.85 to win by five lengths over I'm Very Busy, who has
since finished second in the Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1) and first in the Muniz
Memorial Classic (G2).
So why is Integration the
9-2 third choice in the Maker's Mark Mile? It's because he finished fifth in
the Pegasus World Cup Turf, beaten 1 3/4 lengths as the 6-5 favorite. At first
glance, it looks like a dull performance, but watch the replay and it's easy to
see what happened. After saving ground for most of the journey, Integration
found himself boxed in behind rivals with nowhere to run down the homestretch.
By the time he found racing room, it was far too late to make an impact,
especially since the victorious Warm Heart was finishing fast to record a
course-record time of 1:44.45 for 1 1/8 miles.
Drawing an outside post for
the Maker's Mark Mile should allow Integration to stay out of traffic under
internationally renowned jockey Frankie Dettori, fresh off a six-win afternoon
at Santa Anita last Saturday. The tactical speed Integration showed in the Hill
Prince should come in handy in this seemingly paceless Maker's Mark Mile field,
allowing the four-year-old colt to assume a favorable position near the front
and get the jump on Master of The Seas turning for home. From there, I believe
Integration can outkick the favorite and secure his first Grade 1 win.
#3 Naval Power (10-1),
a second Appleby trainee shipping in off a two-length victory in the Singspiel
(G2) in Dubai, can round out the trifecta under hot jockey Tyler Gaffalione.
Now it's your turn! Who do
you like in the Maker's Mark Mile?
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J. Keeler Johnson (also known as "Keelerman") is a writer, videographer, voice actor, handicapper, and all-around horse racing enthusiast. A great fan of racing history, he considers Dr. Fager to be the greatest racehorse ever produced in America, but counts Zenyatta as his all-time favorite.
