Godolphin | Horse Racing Free Tips

Summer Romance Takes Next Step In Balanchine

Summer Romance (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) was named a 'TDN Rising Star' on debut when winning a Yarmouth maiden by two lengths in June of 2019, and she followed that effort up immediately two weeks later with a six-length win at listed level in Newmarket's Empress Fillies' S. Put away for the winter after finishing third in the G3 Dick Poole S., Summer Romance found last year's Covid-delayed G1 1000 Guineas to be a bridge too far at first asking, finishing eighth of 15 behind Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), but she made amends when taking the G3 Princess Elizabeth S. at Epsom on the Derby undercard just a month later. Summer Romance's abbreviated summer campaign came to a close last year after she finished last of sixth in the G1 Prix Rothschild, and although she likewise failed to sparkle first-up at the carnival when fifth in the G2 Cape Verdi S. on Jan. 28, she was ready second time around and had no problem handling the extra furlong of Thursday's G2 Balanchine S.

Breaking on top, Summer Romance and James Doyle led the field of 10 fillies and mares by about a length down the backstretch. Stylistique (GB) (Dansili {GB}) put the pressure to her at the quarter pole, and Summer Romance responded to kick two lengths clear at the top of the lane. She had lengthened that advantage to four lengths approaching the final furlong, and though Stylistique battled back and Althiqa (GB) (Dark Angel {GB}) came flying late, Summer Romance was dominant enough to hit the wire 2 1/4 lengths the best.

Winning trainer Charlie Appleby said, “Last time she was fresh and went down to the post with her hood on and they took the hood off and she took [William Buick, rider in the Cape Verdi] on. Also in the pre-race and pre-lims, as you probably all saw, we saddled her out the back there and brought her down late, so she wasn't walking around the paddock. Obviously, she ran with the hood on this time, which has helped her. We ticked a few more boxes on the way in and obviously James gave her a great ride on the front end and she got a soft lead.”

Pedigree Notes

Summer Romance is the sixth foal out of Serena's Storm (Ire) (Statue Of Liberty), herself a half-sister to G1 Prix d'Ispahan winner Zabeel Prince (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), multiple group winner and Group 1-placed Puissance De Lune (Ire) (Shamardal), and listed winner Queen Power (Ire) (Shamardal). Serena's Storm previously produced the G1 Coronation S. and G1 Moyglare Stud S. winner Rizeena (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}), and therefore Godolphin had to spend big to get Summer Romance from the Arqana May Breeze-Up Sale in 2019, eventually giving €800,000 for her. Summer Romance was a profitable pinhook for Willie Browne, who had bought her for 300,000gns as a Tattersalls October Book 1 yearling. Serena's Storm's now 3-year-old filly Serena's Queen (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) was a winner last year, while this year she has a 2-year-old filly by Dark Angel (Ire) named Midnight Moll (Ire) and a yearling colt by Dubawi (Ire). Summer Romance's third dam, Serena's Sister (Rahy), is a full-sister to the American champion and Hall Of Fame mare Serena's Song.

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Taking It to the Max: Maxfield Stays Perfect in Style in the Mineshaft

Maxfield (Street Sense) may as well be known as the comeback kid at this point in his career, which has been plagued by injury and misfortune, but he always comes back swinging. Saturday's GIII Mineshaft S. at the Fair Grounds was no exception as the Godolphin homebred scored another good-looking win, taking his perfect record to five-for-five with his second straight win since undergoing surgery for a condylar fracture this summer.

Hammered down to 3-5 favoritism against an overmatched field, Maxfield was antsy in the gate and hopped at the start, settling at the back of the sextet through a :23.97 opening quarter. The bay inched up a bit two wide as 26-1 shot Dinar (Union Rags) ran off on a loose lead, well clear of the field through a :47.49 half-mile. He ranged up alongside Blackberry Wine (Oxbow) on the backstretch run and the pair overtook the tiring Dinar at the top of the lane. Maxfield inhaled Blackberry Wine about a stride later and sailed clear with ease to win for fun. Sonneman (Curlin) rallied to be second.

A debut winner going a mile at Churchill Downs in September 2019, Maxfield romped by 5 1/2 lengths in Keeneland's GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity S. a month later. He was the early favorite heading into that season's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile, but defected from the World Championships just days before the race with an ankle chip. Returning to action May 23, the homebred rallied to another convincing score in the GIII Matt Winn S. beneath the Twin Spires, but was forced off the GI Kentucky Derby trail a month later after suffering a condylar fracture to his right front leg during a work out. Making yet another comeback in NOLA Dec. 19, Maxfield proved as good as ever, registering a facile victory in the Tenacious S.

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 77 black-type winners by Street Sense. Maxfield is also one of 11 Grade I victors, 24 graded scorers and 44 black-type winners out of a daughter of Bernardini, who has been increasing his prominence as a broodmare sire. 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. 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).

Saturday, Fair Grounds
MINESHAFT S.-GIII, $200,000, Fair Grounds, 2-13, 4yo/up, 1 1/16m, 1:43.67, ft.
1–MAXFIELD, 122, 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-Florent Geroux. $126,000. Lifetime Record: GISW, 5-5-0-0, $615,262. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*.
2–Sonneman, 118, c, 4, Curlin–Zardana (Brz), by Crimson Tide (Ire). ($375,000 Ylg '18 KEESEP). O-Courtlandt Farms (Donald & Donna Adam); B-Arnold Zetcher LLC (KY); T-Steven M Asmussen. $40,000.
3–Chess Chief, 118, 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. $20,000.
Margins: 3 1/4, HF, 1. Odds: 0.60, 18.30, 12.90.
Also Ran: Blackberry Wine, Enforceable, Dinar. Scratched: Wells Bayou. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

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‘Rising Star’ Prevalence Eyeing Fountain of Youth

Godolphin's sophomore homebred and 'TDN Rising Star' Prevalence (Medaglia d'Oro), a jaw-dropping debut winner on the GI Pegasus World Cup undercard Jan. 23, breezed Friday morning in anticipation of a possible start in the GII Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth S. at Gulfstream Park Feb. 27.

There is also an optional claiming allowance for 3-year-olds going 1 1/8 miles in the condition book for Thursday, Feb. 25.

Prevalence went five furlongs in 1:01 (4/6) at Palm Meadows, his second work following his 8 1/2-length maiden special weight triumph.

“He worked good and he galloped out good,” trainer Brendan Walsh said. “We're happy with him. I thought he was a good horse before he ran, but did I expect him to do what he did? Absolutely not, especially one of mine first time out. They generally improve, so I would like to think that this guy has some improvement in him. We won't get too carried away. We'll move on to the next one, and he'll be given plenty of chances to prove himself as we go forward.”

Walsh added, “He ran so well at Gulfstream the last time we would probably like to keep him in something at Gulfstream. There's the Fountain of Youth and there's an allowance race there, as well. It's probably going to be one or the other. We'll just see how he does here over the next few weeks and go from there. We'll let him tell us.”

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Impressive Maiden Winner Prevalence Could Show Up In Fountain Of Youth

Godolphin's sophomore homebred Prevalence, an impressive debut winner on the Pegasus World Cup (G1) undercard Jan. 23 at Gulfstream Park, breezed Friday morning in anticipation of a possible start in the $300,000 Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth (G2) Saturday, Feb. 27.

With exercise rider and assistant trainer Tom Molloy up, Prevalence went five furlongs in 1:01 at Palm Meadows, Gulfstream's satellite training facility in Palm Beach County. It was the second work following his 8 ½-length maiden special weight triumph.

“He worked good and he galloped out good. We're happy with him,” trainer Brendan Walsh said. “We're in good shape right now.”

Prevalence was sent off at 7-1 in his unveiling, which drew a full field of 12 including fellow first-time starter Stage Raider, a half-brother to 2018 Triple Crown champion Justify, and narrow favorite Holy Redeemer, by Blame.

After breaking a half-step slow, Prevalence quickly gathered himself and chased the pace for a quarter-mile before taking over the top spot through a half in 46.09 seconds. From there, the bay Medaglia d'Oro colt widened with each stride under a hand ride from Tyler Gaffalione, completing seven furlongs in 1:23.

“I thought he was a good horse before he ran, but did I expect him to do what he did? Absolutely not, especially one of mine first time out,” Walsh said. “They generally improve, so I would like to think that this guy has some improvement in him. We won't get too carried away. We'll move on to the next one, and he'll be given plenty of chances to prove himself as we go forward.”

The 1 1/16-mile Fountain of Youth is the next step for 3-year-olds on Gulfstream's road to the $750,000 Curlin Florida Derby (G1) presented by Hill 'n' Dale Farms at Xalapa March 27. There is also an optional claiming allowance for 3-year-olds going 1 1/8 miles in the condition book for Thursday, Feb. 25.

“He ran so well at Gulfstream the last time we would probably like to keep him in something at Gulfstream. There's the Fountain of Youth and there's an allowance race there, as well. It's probably going to be one or the other,” Walsh said.

“We'll just see how he does here over the next few weeks and go from there. We'll let him tell us,” he added. “He'll probably have just a little work next weekend at some stage. If we go to the Fountain of Youth or the allowance race, he'll probably do a little bit next Friday or Saturday and that should set him up right.”

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