Master of The Seas steps up training for Fourstardave
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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Master of The Seas, unraced since his Grade 1 Maker’s Mark Mile victory at Keeneland in April, picked up the pace in his preparation for the Grade 1 Fourstardave on Aug 10 by working four furlongs on the Oklahoma turf course in 48.51 seconds Friday morning. Daily Racing Form clocker Mike Welsch caught Master of The Seas galloping out five furlongs in 1:00.28, while pulling away from his workmate.
Master of The Seas worked in company with Musical Act, who is being prepared for next Friday’s Grade 2, $500,000 National Musuem of Racing and Hall of Fame Stakes.
Master of The Seas had seven races last year, but is unlikely to have too many more starts before the Breeders’ Cup. There is the Fourstardave and potentially the Grade 1 Coolmore Turf Mile at Keeneland on Oct. 5 and then the Breeders’ Cup on Nov. 2 at Del Mar.
“Charlie is working back from Breeders’ Cup – that would be the aim – and try to plot his best way into that,” said Alex Merriam, an assistant to trainer Charlie Appleby. “He’s a 6-year-old now, so just work back from that, really.”
There were 10 Godolphin workers on the turf Friday, including Legend of Time and Nations Pride, who went a half-mile together in 48.41 seconds. Legend of Time is pointing to the Grade 1, $600,000 Saratoga Derby on Aug. 3 while Nations Pride is likely headed to the Arlington Million at Colonial Downs on Aug. 10.
“We’re very happy with him,” Merriam said of Nations Pride, second to Measured Time in the Manhattan. “He seems well and looking forward to seeing him go down there. He’ll be a live shot down there.”
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