Integration Attempts to Overhaul Returning Carl Spackler in Keeneland's Maker's Mark Mile

To say that Integration (Quality Road) was facing some quality individuals in year's GI Maker's Mark Mile Stakes might be somewhat of an understatement. In that soggy renewal at Keeneland last April, the West Point Thoroughbreds and Woodford Racing runner finished third behind Godolphin's Master of The Seas (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who stole the show following wins in the GI Woodbine Mile and GI Breeders' Cup Mile the previous season. The runner up that day was another Godolphin representative, Group 2 scorer Naval Power (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}), who followed up with a close-up second in the GI Turf Classic. The Shug McGaughey trainee gets another chance at Keeneland's marquee race for turf milers Friday when he faces eight others, including dual Grade I winner Carl Spackler (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}), who will be making his much-awaited first start of the year after a sixth in last November's GI Breeders' Cup Mile at Del Mar.

“It seems like we have been trying to outrun Carl Spackler for the last 10 years. At least that's what it feels like,” quipped West Point Thoroughbred's Terry Finley. “I figured sooner or later we'd see him enter and here he is.”

Reflecting on Integration's Maker's Mark performance last year, Finley explained, “I think he was third best last year. I am not sure he ran his best race, but those two horses that ended up in front of us are very nice horses. We didn't have any excuses. I remember Frankie [Dettori] telling us that he thought we ran our race, but we just didn't get the job done that day.”

Following the respectable effort in this test in 2024, Integration was fourth in the nine-furlong Turf Classic on the Derby Day undercard before winning by 6 1/2 lengths over two rivals in scratch-depleted edition of Colonial's Million Preview in July. Stretching to 10 panels for the GI Arlington Million, the $700,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select purchase had to play bridesmaid to the highly accomplished Nations Pride (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}). Extending even farther for the 12-furlong GII FanDuel TV Kentucky Turf Cup in September, the son of Grade I winner Harmonize (Scat Daddy) came home fourth before rebounding to win the 11-furlong GII Red Smith at the Big A in November.

Given some R&R over the winter, Integration came up just a neck short of the win behind Spirit of St Louis (Medaglia d'Oro), who pegged him at the wire in the nine-furlong GI Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational at Gulfstream Jan. 25.

“Shug was really optimistic that he'd show up in a big way,” recalled Finley in advance of the 5-year-old's seasonal debut. “You get four or five horses that are within 1 1/2 lengths of each other and the winner gets the bob. We had a very good trip and was just second best.”

Stabled at Payson through the winter, Integration appears to have taken his transition to five in good order.

“He is starting to put it together right now,” confirmed Finley. “Shug commented that he had never seen him bigger, stronger and broader than he is now. I think as a 5-year-old, we might be on the cusp of a big year with him. I think he rates very well [in the Maker's Mark].”

Dettori reunites with Integration for Friday's race.

West Point, in partnership with David Ingordo, is also represented by Northern Invader (Collected), trained by Cherie DeVaux. A winner with Jose Ortiz in the irons going a mile in a Keeneland allowance last season, the chestnut subsequently finished fourth in Churchill's GIII Arlington Stakes in June before rounding out his 4-year-old campaign with a third behind winner Carl Spackler in Saratoga's GIII Kelso Stakes in July.

“After he was third to Carl Spackler [in the Kelso] at Saratoga, Cherie very smartly said let's put this colt away, freshen him up a bit and bring him back as a 5-year-old,” explained Finley.

Marking his debut in the GIII Tampa Bay Stakes, the $310,000 OBS March graduate was headed late finishing second by 3/4 of a length behind Running Bee (English Channel) Feb. 1. While Edwin Gonzalez was aboard at Tampa, Finley confirmed that Ortiz will be back in the saddle in the Maker's Mark.

“I was really happy to see that really good race at Tampa. It was a good number that day,” he added. “He seems to get very brave in front, he likes to control things on the front end, and that's what he'll try to do again.”

Following what seemed like biblical rains in Kentucky last weekend, the upcoming forecast in Lexington once again calls for precipitation through the end of the week.

When asked how West Point's runners might handle what seems to be shaping up as another soft turf course for Friday's race, Finley said, “That's the $1-million question. Shug has said that he didn't feel [Integration] is as effective on soft going. We'd love for the weather to break a little bit and give us as firm as turf course as possible.”

Regarding Integration's Ontario-bred stablemate, he added, “I don't think the softer ground won't impact him as much as it might integration.”

Regardless of the weather, Finley admitted that the duo seems to complement each other in the race, at least from a tactical perspective.

“He's probably a touch better going a mile and an eighth, but I think he still rates with these horses,” said Finley of Integration.

Of Northern Invader, he continued, “I think he can be very dangerous because, turning for home, he's got a quick acceleration at the quarter-pole and he has used that a couple of times effectively.”

“It's interesting because we have horses that wants the lead all to himself and another good horse that is a stalker. So, we'll see which ones best and if either one can get to the wire first.”