Tag: maxfield

Maxfield Tops Essential Quality In Breeders’ Cup Classic Rankings

For the sixth consecutive week, Godolphin's 4-year-old Maxfield is the No. 1 rated horse in the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings, a weekly poll of the top 10 horses in contention for the $6 million Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). This year's Longines Breeders' Cup Classic will be run at Del Mar racetrack in Del Mar, California, on Nov. 6 as the final race of the 38th Breeders' Cup World Championships.

Maxfield, trained by Brendan Walsh, received 22 first-place votes and 280 total votes. Maxfield earned an automatic berth into this year's Longines Breeders' Cup Classic when he won the Stephen Foster Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs on June 26.

Godolphin's 3-year-old Essential Quality, last year's TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) winner, remained in second place with 273 votes. Trained by Brad Cox, Essential Quality won Saturday's 1 1/8-mile Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) at Saratoga by a half-length over Keepmeinmind. The victory was Essential Quality's fourth in five starts this year and was his first start since winning the Belmont Stakes (G1) on June 5.

Boat Racing, Gainesway Stable, Roadrunner Racing, and William Strauss's 3-year-old Hot Rod Charlie, trained by Doug O'Neill, is in third place with 225 votes.

Korea Racing Authority's 5-year-old Knicks Go, winner of the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) at Gulfstream Park in January and the Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Handicap (G3) on July 2, moved up one spot to fourth place with 163 votes.

Also trained by Cox, Knicks Go is expected to face Maxfield and Silver State in this Saturday's Whitney (G1) at Saratoga, which is a “Win and You're In” for the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic.

Juddmonte's 3-year-old Mandaloun drops one spot to fifth place with 161 votes. Also trained by Cox, Mandaloun finished a nose behind Hot Rod Charlie in the July 17 TVG.com Haskell Stakes (G1) at Monmouth Park, but was declared the race winner following the disqualification of Hot Rod Charlie for interference in the stretch.

Winchell Thoroughbreds and Willis Horton Racing's 4-year-old Silver State remained in sixth place with 105 votes. Trained by Steve Asmussen, Silver State is unbeaten in four starts this year, which includes victories in the Oaklawn Handicap (G2) and Belmont's Hill 'N' Dale Metropolitan Handicap (G1).

St. George Stable's 5-year-old mare Letruska stayed in seventh place with 85 votes. Trained by Fausto Gutierrez, Letruska won the Ogden Phipps (G1) at Belmont Park and the Fleur de Lis Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs in her last two starts.

CRK Stable's 4-year-old Express Train, winner of the San Diego Handicap (G2) at Del Mar, rose from 10th to eighth place with 66 votes. George E. Hall and SportBLX Thoroughbreds Corp.'s 4-year-old Max Player, winner of Belmont's Suburban (G2), is tied in ninth place with Wertheimer and Frere's 4-year-old Happy Saver, who finished third in the Suburban. Max Player, also trained by Asmussen, and Happy Saver, trained by Todd Pletcher, have 59 points apiece.

Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings – Aug. 3, 2021*

Rank Horse Votes First-Place Votes Previous Week
1 Maxfield 280 22 1
2 Essential Quality 273 7 2
3 Hot Rod Charlie 225 1 3
4 Knicks Go 163 0 5
5 Mandaloun 161 0 4
6 Silver State 105 0 6
7 Letruska 85 0 7
8 Express Train 66 0 10
9 Happy Saver 59 0 9
9 Max Player 59 0 8

*Note – The Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings have no bearing on qualification or selection into the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic.

The 2021 Longines Breeders' Cup Classic, which will be run at 1 ¼ miles on the main track, is limited to 14 starters. The race will be broadcast live on NBC.

The Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings are determined by a panel of leading Thoroughbred racing media, horseplayers, and members of the Breeders' Cup Racing Directors/Secretaries Panel. Rankings will be announced each week through Oct. 11. A list of voting members can be found here.

In the Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings, each voter rates horses on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 system in descending order.

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Maxfield Sitting On Go For Whitney

Godolphin's once-beaten Maxfield (Street Sense) tuned up for next Saturday's GI Whitney S. at Saratoga Saturday morning, breezing a five-eighths of a mile in 1.01.61 (16/34) before turning in a strong gallop out.

Working in the company of the commonly owned Churchill maiden winner Business Model (Candy Ride {Arg}), Maxfield covered his opening quarter-mile in :24 3/5 and the half in :48 2/5 and pulled up six furlongs in a shade over 1:13, according to trainer Brendan Walsh.

“I just wanted the company to take him to the wire,” Walsh said. “I think the best part of it was the gallop out from the wire to an eighth out. He's doing good. I couldn't ask for more than that.”

Having tasted defeat for the first time when third behind Idol (Curlin) in the GI Santa Anita H. in March, the son of Velvety (Bernardini) has since posted facile scores in the GII Alysheba S. Apr. 30 and in the GII Stephen Foster S. June 26, securing a spot in the field for the GI Breeders' Cup Classic. The Whitney also serves as a 'Win and You're In' qualifier for that championship event.

A veteran of just eight racetrack appearances, the 4-year-old Maxfield will be making his Saratoga debut next weekend and for his part, Walsh believes his charge is enjoying his time at the Spa.

“He's doing as well as he's ever done right now,” Walsh said. “I hope he can run at least as well as he's done these last couple times and maybe even a little bit better. He likes it up here and is in a great frame of mind.”

Happy Saver Gearing Up…

Wertheimer et Frere's 'TDN Rising Star' Happy Saver (Super Saver), who defeated Godolphin 'Rising Star' Mystic Guide (Ghostzapper) in last year's GI Jockey Club Gold Cup last fall, could contest the Whitney after drilling a half-mile in :49.25 in the company of last-out GIII Monmouth Cup hero Dr Post (Quality Road).

Trainer Todd Pletcher indicated that both 4-year-old colts are also being considered for the GI TVG Pacific Classic Aug. 21 as he tries to keep the pair separated.

“I thought the work was solid,” Pletcher said. “We'll see how he [Happy Saver] bounces out of it. I haven't quite decided on the Whitney yet.

“There's also the Pacific Classic in-between,” he continued. “I just have to weigh my options. It might give me an opportunity to split the two of them up if I don't run Happy Saver in the Whitney.”

Winner of a one-mile Belmont allowance on seasonal debut May 28, Happy Saver is exiting an even third to Max Player (Honor Code) in a sloppy-track renewal of the GII Suburban S. downstate July 3.

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Maxfield Prepares For Whitney, Pletcher Considers Next Start For Happy Saver

Godolphin homebred Maxfield, trained by Brendan Walsh, worked five furlongs from the gate Saturday under Jose Ortiz in preparation for the $1 million Grade 1 Whitney on August 7 at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Spring, N.Y.

Maxfield, who breezed in company with 3-year-old maiden winner Business Model over the fast main track at 8:45 a.m., was caught by NYRA clockers through splits of :24.3 and :48.2, stopping the clock in 1:01.61.

“I just wanted the company to take him to the wire,” Walsh said. “I think the best part of it was the gallop out from the wire to an eighth out. I had him out in 1:13 and change. He's doing good. I couldn't ask for more than that.”

A winner of 7-of-8 starts, the 4-year-old Street Sense bay will enter the nine-furlong Whitney, a “Win and You're In” qualifier to November's Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Classic, from 3 1/4-length Grade 2 scores at Churchill Downs in the 1 1/16-mile Alysheba on April 30 and the Stephen Foster on June 26.

Walsh said Maxfield is thriving ahead of his first Saratoga start.

“He's doing as well as he's ever done right now,” Walsh said. “I hope he can run at least as well as he's done these last couple times and maybe even a little bit better. He likes it up here and is in a great frame of mind.”

Shortly after the Maxfield breeze, Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher sent out St. Elias Stable's multiple graded stakes winner Dr Post, last-out winner of the Grade 3 Monmouth Cup on July 17, in company with Wertheimer and Frere homebred Happy Saver to work a half-mile in :49.25.

Happy Saver, winner of last year's Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup, is under consideration for a start in the Whitney.

Pletcher said he is also considering the Grade 1 Pacific Classic on August 21 at Del Mar for both Dr Post and Happy Saver as he looks to keep the pair separated with the 10-furlong Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup, also a “Win and You're In' berth contest for the Breeders' Cup Classic, slated for September 5 at the Spa.

“I thought the work was solid,” Pletcher said. “We'll see how he [Happy Saver] bounces out of it. I haven't quite decided on the Whitney yet.

“There's also the Pacific Classic in-between,” he continued. “I just have to weigh my options. It might give me an opportunity to split the two of them up if I don't run Happy Saver in the Whitney.”

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Letruska On Top In NTRA Thoroughbred Poll

St. George Stable's 5-year-old mare Letruska remains at No. 1 in the NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll, with the order of the top 10 horses staying almost the same as last week.

Letruska, trained by Fausto Gutierrez, has 16 first-place votes and 327 points. This year, Letruska has Grade 1 victories in the Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn Park and in the Ogden Phipps at Belmont Park. She also has a Grade 2 win in the Fleur de Lis at Churchill Downs.

Godolphin's 4-year-old Maxfied, trained by Brendan Walsh, is in second place with six first-place votes and 279 points. A winner three times in four starts in 2021, Maxfield captured the June 26 Grade 2 Stephen Foster Stakes at Churchill Downs in his most recent start.

Klaravich Stables' Domestic Spending, and Winchell Thoroughbreds and Willis Horton Racing's 4-year-old Silver State, are now in a third-place tie, each with 250 points. Trained by Chad Brown, Domestic Spending, with seven first-place votes, finished in a dead heat for first with Colonel Liam in the Grade 1 Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic, and won the Grade 1 Resorts World Casino Manhattan Stakes at Belmont Park. Silver State, trained by Steve Asmussen, has won all four of his starts this year, including a last-out victory in the Grade 1 Hill 'N' Dale Metropolitan Handicap on June 5 at Belmont. Silver State received three first-place votes this week.

Godolphin's 3-year-old Essential Quality, who won the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets, remained in fifth place. Trained by Brad Cox, Essential Quality, who is being pointed to this Saturday's Grade 2 Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga, has three first-place votes and 215 points.

Korea Racing Authority's Knicks Go, also trained by Cox, is in sixth place. Winner of the Grade 3 Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Handicap on July 2 and Gulfstream Park's Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational in January, Knicks Go has 151 points.

Godolphin's 4-year-old Mystic Guide was taken out of training last week due to a knee injury. Trained by Mike Stidham, Mystic Guide, the Group 1 Dubai World Cup winner, retained seventh place with two first-place votes and 104 points.

Michael Lund Petersen's 4-year-old Gamine, the 2020 champion female sprinter, is three for three this year, including a victory in the Grade 1 Derby City Distaff presented by Kendall Jackson Winery at Churchill Downs. Trained by Bob Baffert, Gamine is in eight place with 101 points.

Juddmonte's 3-year-old Mandaloun, who was moved up from second to first place in the Grade 1 TVG.com Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park on July 18 following the disqualification of Hot Rod Charlie, retained ninth place. Mandaloun, who finished second in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve, has 55 points.

Hot Rod Charlie, owned by Boat Racing, Gainesway Stable, Roadrunner Racing, and William Strauss, moved from 11th to 10th place this week, replacing Godolphin's Althiqa (GB). Hot Rod Charlie, second in the Belmont Stakes, has 48 points.

The NTRA Top Thoroughbred polls are the sport's most comprehensive surveys of experts. Every week eligible journalists and broadcasters cast votes for their top 10 horses, with points awarded on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis. All horses that have raced in the U.S., are in training in the U.S., or are known to be pointing to a major event in the U.S. are eligible for the NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll. Voting in the Top Thoroughbred Poll is scheduled to be conducted through Nov. 6.

The full results for the NTRA Thoroughbred Polls can be found on the NTRA website at: https://www.ntra.com/ntra-top-thoroughbred-poll-july-26-2021/

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