Modern Games Tops Field of Eight for 2023 Maker's Mark Mile

April 12 - Godolphin's champion and two-time Breeders' Cup winner Modern Games (IRE) heads a field of eight 4-year-olds and up entered Tuesday for the 35th running of the $600,000 Maker's Mark Mile (G1) on the Keeneland turf course on Firday, April 14.

The Maker's Mark Mile will go as the ninth race on Friday's 10-race program with a 5:16 p.m. ET post time. First post on Friday is 1 p.m.

Trained by Charlie Appleby, Modern Games arrived here Saturday to return to where he finished his 2022 campaign with a victory as the 6-5 favorite in a field of 14 in the FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) Presented by PDJF on Nov. 5 in his most recent start.

This is the fourth trip to North America for Modern Games, who has taken home the first-place check in all of his previous ventures. As a 2-year-old, he won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) at Del Mar and last year dominated the Ricoh Woodbine Mile (G1) in Canada.

An earner of more than $3 million, Modern Games will be ridden Friday by William Buick and break from post position seven.

Among his rivals are Grade 1 winners Speaking Scout and In Love (BRZ).

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' Speaking Scout won the Hollywood Derby (G1) at Del Mar to close his 2022 campaign and opened 2023 with a third-place finish in the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1) Presented by Qatar Racing at Gulfstream Park.

Trained by Graham Motion, Speaking Scout will be ridden by Luis Saez and break from post position one. Speaking Scout worked a half-mile here Monday in :49.20 on the main track.

Bonne Chance Farm and Stud R D I's In Love won the Keeneland Turf Mile (G1) in 2021 for trainer Paulo Lobo. In Love will be ridden Friday by Vincent Cheminaud and break from post position six.

Making his U.S. stakes debut for owner Peter Brant and trainer Chad Brown is Dr Zempf (GB).

A group winner last year in Ireland, Dr Zempf was an easy allowance winner at Gulfstream on March 10. Tyler Gaffalione has the mount on Dr Zempf, who will break from post position five.

Brant and Brown teamed up to win the 2021 Maker's Mark Mile with Raging Bull (FR).

Maker's Mark Mile Nominees Headlined by Champion Modern Games

April 3 - Godolphin's homebred champion Modern Games (IRE), winner of the FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) Presented by PDJF here last fall, heads a list of 26 nominees to the 35th running of the $600,000 Maker's Mark Mile Stakes (G1) to be run Friday, April 14 at Keeneland Racecourse.

Trained by Charlie Appleby, Modern Games is undefeated in three North American starts with victories in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) at Del Mar in 2021 and the Ricoh Woodbine Mile (G1) last September. He received the 2022 Eclipse Award as North America's champion turf mile.

Four other Grade 1 winners are among the nominees: Three Diamonds Farm's Atone, trained by Mike Maker; Little Red Feather Racing, Sterling Stables and Marsha Naify's Gold Phoenix (IRE), trained by Phil D'Amato; Bonne Chance Farm and Stud R D I's In Love (BRZ), trained by Paulo Lobo; and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' Speaking Scout, trained by Graham Motion.

April 7 - $600,000 MAKER'S MARK MILE (G1) - Dr Zempf (GB) (trainer Chad Brown), In Love (BRZ) (Paulo Lobo), Modern Games (IRE) (Charlie Appleby). Possible: Chez Pierre (FR) (Arnaud Delacour).

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