Churchill Downs | Horse Racing Free Tips

Gift List Dominates the Edgewood, Aunt Pearl Fifth

Gift List scored her first Stateside victory in style with a dominant score in Churchill's GII Edgewood S. Friday. Previously undefeated favorite Aunt Pearl (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}), last seen winning the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, faded to fifth.

Sent off at 4-1, Gift List tracked from a ground-saving third as the chalk dictated terms, clocking early splits of :24.32 and :49.03. Biding her time on the backstretch run, Gift List dove between horses to overtake Aunt Pearl at the top of the stretch and powered clear instantly, roaring home to a dazzling score. Barista filled the place spot. Aunt Pearl was one-paced in the lane, swallowed up by the field to be fifth at the line.

“Off the last race, in her first U.S. debut, she gave a great run that day, in a race that had no pace,” said trainer Brian Lynch. “She's really trained so well from her last start to this, even though we had to work her on the dirt, which was a new thing to her. She was very comfortable getting over it, and was getting plenty out of her works. I had a good feeling going into this race, that if Aunt Pearl were to stub her toe, we'd have a good shot. She was a big obstacle, no doubt. Undefeated filly. Breeders' Cup winner. But we all know, and I've run into it myself with Oscar Performance, some of them take to this course and some just don't. It had a little bit of give in it today, and my filly had some good races on soft and heavy turf. Maybe that had something to do with it.”

“I didn't have any special instructions today; just play the break and go from there,” said winning rider Javier Castellano. “She broke fine and I got a very good spot. Then when I asked her she gave me some amazing acceleration. She was a special winner today.”

A second-out graduate at Newcastle Aug. 2, Gift List won again at Redcar 27 days later. Runner-up next out at Newmarket Oct. 3, she was second again in the Radley S. at Newbury Oct. 24. Privately purchased by the Amermans and sent to Brian Lynch, she was second in Keeneland's GII Appalachian S. when making her U.S. debut Apr. 3.

As for the beaten favorite, BSW/Crow Bloodstock tweeted: “Aunt Pearl came out of the race sound. Unfortunately she bled 3/5, her first time bleeding. She ran her entire 2yo year without Lasix, and we are hopeful we will be able to get her back to top form this season. When she is at her best, she has devastating speed that carries.”

Pedigree Notes:

Gift List is the 11th graded winner and 17th black-type scorer for her sire Bated Breath. Her GSW dam Birthstone is a daughter of GSW & G1SP Baya (Nureyev) and a half-sister to SW & MGSP Songcraft (Ire) (Singspiel {Ire}). Birthstone has only produced one foal since the winner, a now juvenile filly by Havana Gold (Ire).

Friday, Churchill Downs
EDGEWOOD S. PRESENTED BY NEWPORT RACING & GAMING-GII, $300,000, Churchill Downs, 4-30, 3yo, f, 1 1/16mT, 1:42.52, gd.
1–GIFT LIST (GB), 118, f, 3, by Bated Breath (GB)
1st Dam: Birthstone (GB) (GSW-Fr), by Machiavellian
2nd Dam: Baya, by Nureyev
3rd Dam: Barger, by Riverman
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. (23,000gns Ylg '19 TAOCT). O-Amerman Racing LLC; B-James Ortega Bloodstock Ltd (GB); T-Brian A Lynch; J-Javier Castellano. $182,280. Lifetime Record: SP-Eng, 7-3-4-0, $281,814. Werk Nick Rating: C+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Barista, 118, f, 3, Medaglia d'Oro–Callista, by Tapit. ($100,000 Ylg '19 KEESEP). O-Miacomet Farm & Michael A Pietrangelo; B-Courtlandt Farm (KY); T-James E Baker. $58,800.
3–Line Dancing, 118, f, 3, Speightstown–Choreograph, by Dynaformer. O/B-Bass Stables LLC (KY); T-Michael R Matz. $29,400.
Margins: 4 1/4, 2HF, NO. Odds: 4.40, 23.10, 21.40.
Also Ran: Queen of the Green, Aunt Pearl (Ire), Postnup, Zaajel.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Maxfield Makes It Look Easy In Alysheba

Godolphin homebred Maxfield, undefeated until last month's Santa Anita Handicap (third), redeemed himself with a facile 3 1/4-length victory on Kentucky Oaks Friday at Churchill Downs. The 4-year-old son of Street Sense pulled away from his rivals with ease as the 1-2 favorite in the G2 Alysheba Stakes, dominating under Jose Ortiz to complete 1 1/16 miles over the fast main track in 1:41.39. Trained by Brendan Walsh, Maxfield has now won six of his seven lifetime starts to earn nearly $900,000.

“We're just delighted to get him back in the winner's circle again,” Walsh said. “He's a remarkable horse.”

First appearing on the major racing scene with a victory in the G1 Breeders' Futurity in 2019, Maxfield missed out on that year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita due to injury. He returned in May of 2020 to win the G3 Matt Winn Stakes, but was again sidelined until December, when he won the listed Tenacious Stakes at the Fair Grounds.

Hitting a rhythm this year, Maxfield won the G3 Mineshaft Stakes before running a good third in the G1 Santa Anita Handicap on March 6. He entered the starting gate this Friday as the 1-2 favorite in a field of six, and laid a comfortable third in the early going before ranging up three-wide to take command at the head of the lane.

Maxfield pulled away to an easy win, while frontrunner Visitant held on to be second by 4 1/4 lengths over Chess Chief. Roadster checked in fourth.

Bred in Kentucky by his owner, Maxfield is out of the winning Bernardini mare Velvety, a half-sister to Sky Mesa. His third dam is the multiple graded stakes winner Caress (Storm Cat).

Maxfield avenged his lone defeat last out at Santa Anita, winning the Alysheba by 3 1/4 lengths

Jose Ortiz (Jockey, Maxfield, winner) – “I was very confident all the way around. We were right where I wanted to be. When it came time to go, he was there for me. He's one of the nice ones.”

Brendan Walsh (Trainer, Maxfield, winner) – “I just told Jose (Ortiz) to get him in a nice rhythm, he likes to roll along and get into that cruising speed. He's an adaptable horse, so he's easy to ride under whatever the circumstances. Physically he's a stronger horse, as time's gone on, he's gradually filled out and he's up to his full maturity, which is exciting. He loves this track, and he hasn't done anything wrong. But actually he hasn't done anything wrong at any track where he's run. He's just a very good horse.”

Umberto Rispoli (Jockey, Visitant, runner-up) – “He's not a fast horse from the gate so I said to myself, 'I'll try to break in front of Roadster and see where I am into the first turn. I saw Irad (Oritz Jr.) on Roadster and I was happy to sit there and have a target. From there I went an easy pace and the horse really responded the whole way. Obviously when Maxfield comes around I have to go as he's got such a big stride. He really gave 100% to the wire but the winner was too good today.”

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Maxfield Returns to Winning Ways in Alysheba

Maxfield bounced back from his first-ever defeat to kick off Derby weekend's graded stakes action as a heavy favorite in Friday's GII Alysheba S. A head-turning winner of the GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity as a juvenile, the Godolphin homebred was forced to miss the Breeders' Cup, but resurfaced a winner in the track-and-trip GIII Matt Winn S. last May and looked perfectly poised to take advantage of the pushed-back Triple Crown schedule last term. He was soon diagnosed with a condylar fracture, however, and eventually resurfaced to take the Dec. 19 Tenacious S. and Feb. 13 GIII Mineshaft S. at Fair Grounds, leading many to believe he was the best older horse in the country. Favored at 11-10 when attempting to get 10 panels in the Mar. 6 GI Santa Anita H., the Godolphin homebred could only manage third, beaten two lengths, behind a pair of locally based runners.

Away without incident from the outside six post, Maxfield settled in midpack out in the clear under stout restraint behind splits of :23.91 and :47.48. He ranged up ominously entering the home bend, poked a head in front near the quarter pole and edged away from resilient pacesetter Visitant before widening the gap late.

“I was very confident all the way around,” said winning pilot Jose Ortiz, who hadn't been on Maxfield since the Matt Winn. We were right where I wanted to be. When it came time to go, he was there for me. He's one of the nice ones.”

Trainer Brendan Walsh added, “I just told Jose to get him in a nice rhythm, he likes to roll along and get into that cruising speed. He's an adaptable horse, so he's easy to ride under whatever the circumstances. Physically he's a stronger horse, as time's gone on, he's gradually filled out and he's up to his full maturity, which is exciting. He loves this track, and he hasn't done anything wrong. But actually he hasn't done anything wrong at any track where he's run. He's just a very good horse.”

Friday, Churchill Downs
ALYSHEBA S. PRESENTED BY SENTIENT JET-GII, $400,000, Churchill Downs, 4-30, 4yo/up, 1 1/16m, 1:41.39, ft.
1–MAXFIELD, 120, c, 4, by Street Sense
1st Dam: Velvety, by Bernardini
2nd Dam: Caress, by Storm Cat
3rd Dam: La Affirmed, by Affirmed
O-Godolphin LLC; B-Godolphin (KY); T-Brendan P Walsh; J-Jose L Ortiz. $245,520. Lifetime Record: GISW, 7-6-0-1, $908,782. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Visitant, 118, h, 5, Ghostzapper–Peppermint Lounge, by Distorted Humor. O/B-Williamson Racing LLC (KY); T-William E Morey. $79,200.
3–Chess Chief, 123, h, 5, Into Mischief–Un Blessed, by Mineshaft. ($145,000 RNA Ylg '17 FTSAUG). O-Estate of James J Coleman Jr; B-Morgan's Ford Farm (VA); T-Dallas Stewart. $39,600.
Margins: 3 1/4, 4 1/4, HF. Odds: 0.50, 11.70, 7.90.
Also Ran: Roadster, Sonneman, Attachment Rate.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

Pedigree Notes:

Maxfield's pedigree has Godolphin all over it from top to bottom, sired by Street Sense–a son of the operation's Street Cry (Ire)–and out of fellow Sheikh Mohammed homebred Velvety, a daughter of Street Sense's barnmate Bernardini. He is one of 11 Grade I winners, 35 graded winners and 78 black-type winners by Street Sense. Maxfield is also one of 11 Grade I victors, 28 graded scorers and 49 black-type winners out of a daughter of Bernardini, whose status as a top broodmare sire seems to increase each week.

Godolphin went to $3.1 million at the 2000 KEENOV sale to acquire Maxfield's second dam, MGSW Caress (Storm Cat), in foal to Coronado's Quest. Caress is responsible for Grade I-winning sire Sky Mesa (Pulpit) and MGSW Golden Velvet (Seeking the Gold), who is the dam of graded winners Lucullan (Hard Spun) and Innovative Idea (Bernardini). Maxfield was only Velvety's second foal and she has since produced the 3-year-old colt Dubai Vision (Medaglia d'Oro) and a juvenile filly by Medaglia d'Oro. Her 2020 colt by Street Sense died and she was bred back to Uncle Mo for 2021. This is also the family of graded winners Good Samaritan (Harlan's Holiday), Brave Nation (Pioneerof the Nile), Country Cat (Storm Cat), Della Francesca (Danzig) and Bernstein (Storm Cat).

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King Fury to Scratch from Derby

Fern Circle Stables, Three Chimneys Farm and Magdalena Racing's King Fury (Curlin) will be forced to scratch from Saturday's GI Kentucky Derby after spiking a fever Friday, his trainer Ken McPeek announced via a video on twitter. The $950,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling and last-out GIII Stonestreet Lexington S. winner was drawn in post 16 and was 20-1 on the morning line.

“King Fury spiked a 104 fever this afternoon after he galloped this morning. He went off his feed. We obviously have to do the right thing–I feel gutted for [owners] Paul Fireman and Goncalo Torrealba and [jockey] Brian Hernandez and all the people who have worked so hard to get him to this race, but unfortunately, he is not 100%,” McPeek said. “This is a horse who has been doing well all week–anyone who watched him train had to be impressed, I know I was. We felt pretty confident going into this race. We had a big chance. We're obviously going to scratch him, on veterinarian advice–which is an easy one. We'll take him out, regroup and point to another race. I think you'll probably see this horse pointed for the [Aug. 28 GI] Travers, which I think is a great spot.”

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