Trio Of Million-Dollar Grade 1 Stakes Anchor Kentucky Derby Undercard

Godolphin’s Naval Power (GB), runner-up to stablemate and Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) winner Master of The Seas in the Maker’s Mark Mile (G1) at Keeneland on April 12, tops a field of 11 entered Saturday for the $1-million Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic (GI) for 4-year-olds and up to be run May 4 at Churchill Downs.

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 (G1) and one of three with Grade 1 status on the undercard to offer a $1-million purse along with the $1-million Churchill Downs (G1) and the $1-million Derby City Distaff (G1). 

Other graded stakes on Saturday's blockbuster card include the $750,000 Longines Churchill Distaff Turf Mile (G2), the $600,000 Pat Day Mile (G2), the $600,000 American Turf (G2), the $600,000 Twin Spires Turf Sprint (G2), and the $200,000 Knicks Go Overnight Stakes (Listed).

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. (ET) 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 (G2) 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 (G1). 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), Anglophine (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) (Dettori).

Hoist The Gold Tops Field Of 11 For Churchill Downs Stakes 

Dream Team One Racing’s Stable’s Hoist the Gold, runner-up to 2023 Horse of the Year Cody’s Wish last year in the Churchill Downs (G1), heads a field of 11 4-year-olds and up for this year’s running of the seven-furlong sprint.

The Churchill Downs will go as the eighth race with a 2:46 p.m. post time.

Trained by Dallas Stewart, Hoist the Gold produced a strong finish to 2023 by winning the Phoenix (G2) at Keeneland and the Cigar Mile (G2) with a sixth-place Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) finish sandwiched in between.

John Velazquez has the mount from post 11.