Churchill Downs Press Release
LOUISVILLE, Ky.— Godolphin’s Naval Power (GB), runner-up to stablemate and Breeders’ Cup Mile (GI) winner Master of The Seas in the Maker’s Mark Mile at Keeneland on April 12, tops a field of 11 entered Saturday for the $1,000,000 Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic (GI) for 4-year-olds and up to be run May 4.
The Turf Classic is one of eight stakes on next Saturday’s 14-race program that will be highlighted by the 150th running of the $5 million Kentucky Derby (GI) presented by Woodford Reserve.
Other stakes that afternoon include the $1 million Churchill Downs (GI) presented by Ford, the $1 million Derby City Distaff (GI) presented by Kendall-Jackson Winery, the $750,000 Longines Churchill Distaff Turf Mile (GII), the $600,000 Pat Day Mile (GII) presented by SAP, the $600,000 American Turf (GII) presented by TwinSpires, the $600,000 Twin Spires Turf Sprint (GII) presented by Sentient Jet and the $200,000 Knicks Go Overnight Stakes (Listed) presented by L&N Federal Credit Union.
The Turf Classic, run at 1 1/8 miles on the Matt Winn Turf Course will go as the afternoon’s 11th race with a 5:27 p.m. (all times Eastern) post time. First post Saturday is 10:30 a.m.
Trained by Charlie Appleby, Naval Power has won six of eight career starts with his top victory coming in the Singspiel (GII) at Meydan in February. Frankie Dettori has the call Saturday from post 11.
Also expected to attract attention from the public are LSU Stables’ Far Bridge and Team Hanley, Richard Schermehorn and Paul Braverman’s I’m Very Busy.
Trained by Christophe Clement, Far Bridge has an 8-4-3-1 career record highlighted by a victory in the Belmont Derby (GI). Jose Ortiz has the mount from post 4.
I’m Very Busy enters the race off a 3 ¾-length victory in the Muniz Memorial Classic (GII) at Fair Grounds, a race that follows a runner-up effort in the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (GI). Trained by Chad Brown, I’m Very Busy will be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. from post 6.
The field for the Turf Classic, with riders from the inside, is: Integration (Tyler Gaffalione), Anglophile (John Velazquez), Cellist (Luis Saez), Far Bridge (Ortiz), Program Trading (GB) (Flavien Prat), I’m Very Busy (Ortiz Jr.), Webslinger (Javier Castellano), Never Surprised (Florent Geroux), Never Explain (Joel Rosario), Siege of Boston (Junior Alvarado), Naval Power (GB) (Frankie Dettori).
