Meet the Contenders: $600,000 Grade 1 Maker’s Mark Mile at Keeneland | Friday, April 12, 2024

The Keeneland Spring Meet’s premier turf race takes place Friday with the Maker's Mark Mile. It's a fascinating gathering of Hall of Fame-level trainers, boasting Chad Brown, Todd Pletcher, Charlie Appleby, Roger Attfield, Shug McGaughey and Bob Baffert among the 8 entrants. Brown and Appleby each send out a pair. The Maker's Mark Mile is part of a card that also features the Limestone Stakes.

Let’s meet the contenders for the Maker’s Mark Mile (Race 9):

#1-EQUITIZE: Least experienced runner in the field has won 2 of 3 career starts, both at Tampa Bay Downs. Well-beaten seventh in his only prior stakes try, needing to make up 9 lengths on return rival Integration on Friday. Trainer Chad Brown won the 2021 Maker’s Mark Mile with Raging Bull. Brown’s start to the Keeneland meet included 3 wins opening weekend, topped by the Blue Grass victory of leading Kentucky Derby hopeful Sierra Leone.

#2-EMMANUEL: Two-time winner of Gulfstream Park’s Grade 3 Canadian Turf exits that repeat score and looks to improve off last year’s seventh-place finish in this race. He’s won 7 of 13 starts, including 5 of 9 on grass. Todd Pletcher has trained 2 Maker’s Mark Mile winners, Jack Milton (2015) and American Patriot (2017). Jockey Irad Ortiz won this race aboard Raging Bull (2021). Ortiz won 5 races opening weekend at Keeneland, including the Ashland (teamed with Pletcher) and Shakertown Stakes.

#3-NAVAL POWER: First of 2 imports for Godolphin and trainer Charlie Appleby, he’s won 6 of 7 career starts. Came off a 13-month break to win the Group 2 Singspiel in Dubai in February and has been gelded since that February return. Tyler Gaffalione won the Maker’s Mark Mile in 2020 with Preakness champ War of Will. Gaffalione exits a big Keeneland weekend in which he won the Blue Grass aboard Sierra Leone, making him one of the favorites for the Kentucky Derby.

#4-MASTER OF THE SEAS: Reigning Breeders’ Cup Mile winner looks to join Kip Deville (2008) and Wise Dan (2013, 2014) in adding a Maker’s Mark Mile title the following spring. The more established of the Godolphin / Charlie Appleby pair making the trip to Keeneland, he’s earned $2.2 million. Nose runner-up to Up to the Mark at Keeneland in October in what was the race of the Fall Meet, the Grade 1 Keeneland Turf Mile. That nose is all that separates him from 4 straight victories. Jockey William Buick, his Breeders’ Cup Mile and Woodbine Mile-winning rider, reunites.

#5-KUBRICK: French Group 3-winning juvenile of 2022 had a light campaign a year ago with only 2 starts. Shifted continents and returned from a 10-month break to win a Tampa Bay Downs allowance mile in March for new connections. Trainer Chad Brown won the 2021 Maker’s Mark Mile with Raging Bull. Jockey Flavien Prat seeks back-to-back wins in this race after guiding Chez Pierre a year ago. Like Maker’s Mark Mile rival Master of the Seas, he’s a son of international star stallion Dubawi.

#6-SHIRL’S SPEIGHT: 2022 Maker’s Mark Mile winner looks to join Wise Dan and Kip Deville as the race’s only 2-time champs. One of a record 3 winners in this race saddled by Roger Attfield, including Shudanz (1992) and Perfect Soul (2004). Has lost 11 straight since his big win here in April ’22, but was runner-up in the Breeders’ Cup Mile and Woodbine Mile (behind return rival Master of the Seas) during that span. Luis Saez, his ’22 pilot, reunites. Field’s eldest competitor at age 7, but note 7 times since its 1989 inception this race has been won by horses aged 7-9.

#7-DU JOUR: Winner of Santa Anita’s Kilroe Mile and the Del Mar Mile in recent outings, he gets another chance vs. Master of the Seas. Beaten 3-1/2 lengths by that one in the Breeders’ Cup Mile in a blanket finish while 10th. Dropped his first 5 starts when moving from Bill Mott to Bob Baffert in 2021, but since has won 3 of his last 4. Loses regular rider Flavien Prat to Kubrick, but Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez is a 2-time winner of this race (1999 Soviet Line, 2014 Wise Dan).

#8-INTEGRATION: Jockey Frankie Dettori, coming off a 6-win Santa Anita Derby Day last Saturday on the west coast, brings his hot hand to Keeneland. The colt’s unbeaten sophomore season in ’23 saw him win the Virginia Derby and Hill Prince, but opened the current year with a disappointing fifth in the Pegasus World Cup Turf as the 6-5 favorite. Quality Road colt was beaten less than 2 lengths to elite international mare Warm Heart, while runner-up I’m Very Busy since returned to win Fair Grounds’ Muniz Memorial. Trainer Shug McGaughey won the 2012 Maker’s Mark Mile with Data Link.