Godolphin | Horse Racing Free Tips

Big Field Set for Raven Run

A wide-open field of 13 sophomore filly sprinters will line up for Saturday's GII Lexus Raven Run S. at Keeneland.

'TDN Rising Star' Souper Sensational (Curlin) enters in good form in her last three starts since receiving a freshening. A powerful winner of Belmont's GIII Victory Ride S. July 10, the Live Oak colorbearer followed with a second-place finish behind likely GI Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint second choice Bella Sofia (Awesome Patriot) in the GI Longines Test S. Aug. 7 and repeated that same position behind the streaking Cilla (California Chrome) after leading in the stretch as the 4-5 favorite in the GII Prioress S. back at the Spa Sept. 4.

Juddmonte homebred Obligatory (Curlin), drawn widest of all for Bill Mott here, is favored at 3-1 on the morning line. Minus a disappointing fifth after a slow start in the Test, the GII Eight Belles S. upsetter has strong second-place finishes going longer behind Search Results (Flatter) in the one-mile GI Acorn S. June 5 and Clairiere (Curlin) in the 1 1/16-mile GI Cotillion S. last time Sept. 25.

Mott will also saddle Godolphin homebred Caramel Swirl (Union Rags), a big-figure Saratoga allowance winner July 24 in her comebacker following a dull seventh in the Eight Belles. She was a disappointing fourth as the heavy favorite in the two-turn GIII Charles Town Oaks last time Aug. 27.

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Maxfield To Skip Breeders’ Cup Classic In Favor Of Clark

After runner-up finishes in both the G1 Whitney and G1 Woodward this year, Godolphin's Maxfield will skip the Breeders' Cup Classic. According to the Daily Racing Form, the 4-year-old son of Street Sense will instead target the Grade 1 Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs on Nov. 26.

“He has such a good record at Churchill. We're going to skip California with him altogether,” trainer Brendan Walsh told DRF. “It's very important for him to win a Grade 1 this year. This probably gives him his best chance to get a Grade 1 at this stage of his career.”

Maxfield has won each of his four races at Churchill, including the G2 Stephen Foster earlier this year. In his 10 career starts, Maxfield owns seven wins, two seconds, and a third, with earnings of $1,550,902.

Maxfield to Bypass BC in Favor of Clark

Godolphin homebred Maxfield (Street Sense) will bypass an expected start in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic Nov. 6 and will instead point for the GI Clark H. at Churchill Downs 20 days later. The story was originally reported by the Daily Racing Form.

“He has such a good record at Churchill. We're going to skip California with him altogether,” trainer Brendan Walsh told the DRF. “It's very important for him to win a Grade I this year. This probably gives him his best chance to get a Grade I at this stage of his career.”

Maxfield's defection leaves top rider Jose Ortiz open for the Classic.

Winner of the 2019 GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity S., Maxfield is a perfect four-for-four at Churchill Downs. He broke his maiden there on debut, won the 2020 GIII Matt Winn S. and captured the GII Alysheba S. and GII Stephen Foster S. earlier this season. The bay most recently finished second in both the Aug. 7 GI Whitney S. and Oct. 2 GI Woodward S.

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Dual Grade I Winner Althiqa Retired

Godolphin homebred Althiqa (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}– Mistrusting {Ire}, by Shamardal), a dual Grade I winner, has been retired for broodmare duty, trainer Charlie Appleby announced on Tuesday.

“We've retired Althiqa,” Appleby told Dubai Racing Channel's Michael Adolphson in an interview. “There were no more options for her. She could have gone to Del Mar, there's a Grade II on the card there, but bless her, she owes us nothing. She's pulled up safe and sound and she'll head to the breeding shed.”

A winner of her only start at two at Thirsk, the grey took the Listed Prix Amandine and was placed at Group 3 level three times last year from six starts. It was at four, however, that the daughter of Listed Boadicea Fillies S. heroine Mistrusting, who also bore the royal blue, really shone, taking the G2 Cape Verdi at Meydan in January prior to running third in the G2 Balanchine there in February.

Given some time off, she shipped Stateside and defeated stablemate Summer Romance (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) in the GI Just a Game S. at Belmont Park in June. Brought back for Saratoga's GI Diana S., Althiqa once again had Summer Romance back in second on July 17. Her final start was a fourth after some traffic issues in the GI First Lady S. at Keeneland on Oct. 9. A granddaughter of G2 Cherry Hinton S. heroine and G1 Cheveley Park S. second Misheer (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), she retires with a mark of 12-6-2-3 and $761,213 in earnings.

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