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‘Fit And Happy’ Maxfield Faces Eight Rivals In Saturday’s Stephen Foster

Godolphin's multiple graded stakes-winning homebred Maxfield leads a field of nine older horses that were entered in Saturday afternoon's featured 40th running of the $600,000 Stephen Foster (Grade 2) – one of seven stakes events on the 12-race closing day program at Churchill Downs.

Saturday's first race is 12:45 p.m. (all times Eastern) and the Stephen Foster will go as Race 11 with a post time of 5:59 p.m. The supporting stakes on the card are the $300,000 Fleur de Lis (G2), $300,000 Wise Dan (G2), $150,000 Bashford Manor (G3), $150,000 Debutante (Listed), $150,000 Tepin and $150,000 War Chant.

The 1 1/8-mile Stephen Foster is a Breeders' Cup “Win and You're In” event for the $6 million Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). The winner will receive an all entry fees paid berth to the season ending championship event on Nov. 6 at Del Mar.

Maxfield, a 4-year-old son of Kentucky Derby-winner Street Sense, won the $400,000 Alysheba (G2) eight weeks ago at Churchill Downs. Trained by Brendan Walsh, New York-based jockey Jose Ortiz has the call from post position No. 8.

“We shipped him up from Keeneland last week and worked an easy half-mile (at Churchill Downs),” Walsh said. “He did most of his work at Keeneland prior to the Foster. He's a fit and happy horse. We're ready to go and excited to get this race underway.”

Maxfield was on the Road to the Kentucky Derby in 2020 when he cruised to a one-length victory in the $150,000 Matt Winn (G3). Unfortunately, due to a condylar fracture following a workout at Keeneland, Maxfield went on the sidelines until the fall. Through seven lifetime starts, Maxfield has recorded six victories and boasts earnings of $908,782. The only blemish in his career came in the $400,000 Santa Anita Handicap (G1) where he finished third to Idol.

Among Maxfield's rivals in the Stephen Foster is Tom Durant's five-time graded stakes winner Silver Dust. Trained by Bret Calhoun, Silver Dust was the half-length winner of the $150,000 Ben Ali (G3) at Keeneland. The 7-year-old son of Tapit was attempting to prep for the Foster in the $150,000 Blame at Churchill Downs on May 29 but was scratched after acting up in the starting gate. Since the Blame, Silver Dust returned to the work tab three times for Calhoun. Silver Dust finished third in last year's Stephen Foster behind Tom's d'Etat and By My Standards. Jockey Adam Beschizza, who has been aboard Silver Dust for his previous six starts, has the call from post 5.

The Estate of James Coleman Jr.'s Chess Chief finished third to Maxfield in the Alysheba and trainer Dallas Stewart will be hoping for redemption in the Stephen Foster. The four-time winner achieved graded stakes glory in March with a narrow victory over Owendale in the $400,000 New Orleans Classic (G2). Stewart enlisted the riding services of Hall of Famer John Velazquez for the Stephen Foster and the duo will break from the rail.

The other top entrants in Saturday's Stephen Foster are Ten Strike Racing and Madaket Stables' Grade 3 winner Warrior's Charge; Williamson Racings' two-time stakes winner Visitant; Gary Barber, Wachtel Stable, Peter Deutsch and Pantofel Stable's graded stakes placed South Bend; Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider's stakes-placed Sprawl; Raymond Daniels, Wayne Scherr and Will Harbut Racing's recent allowance hero Necker Island; and Three Diamonds Farm's four-time winner Empty Tomb.

The complete field from the rail out (with jockey and trainer):

Chess Chief (Velazquez, Stewart)
Empty Tomb (Ricardo Santana Jr., Mike Maker)
Necker Island (Mitchell Murrill, Chris Hartman)
Sprawl (Brian Hernandez Jr., Tommy Drury Jr.)
Silver Dust (Beschizza, Calhoun)
Warrior's Charge (Florent Geroux, Brad Cox)
South Bend (Tyler Gaffalione, Bill Mott)
Maxfield (Ortiz, Walsh)
Visitant (James Graham, Bill Morey)

Tickets are available for Saturday's closing day program online at www.churchilldowns.com/tickets. Admission gates will open at 11:30 a.m. and “Churchill Downs Today” will air at 11:45 a.m. throughout the racetrack and on www.TwinSpires.com, the official online wagering provider of Churchill Downs Incorporated.

Saturday's program also will air on “America's Day at the Races” on Fox Sports 2 from 12:30-6:30 p.m.

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Maxfield Headlines Stephen Foster on Churchill Downs’ Closing Day

With five days remaining in the 2021 Spring Meet at Churchill Downs, next Saturday's closing day stakes spectacular is beginning to take shape. The 11-race program is scheduled to be headlined by Godolphin's Grade I winner Maxfield in the featured $600,000 Grade 2 Stephen Foster Handicap, one of seven stakes events on the card.

Maxfield, trained by Brendan Walsh, recorded his final work prior to the 1 1/8-mile Stephen Foster on Saturday at Churchill Downs with an easy half-mile move in :48.80 at 5:30 a.m. Maxfield enters the Stephen Foster following a convincing 3 ¼-length win in the $400,0000 Grade 2 Alysheba Stakes presented by Sentient Jet.

The talented son of Street Sense is slated to be joined in the gate by fellow graded stakes winners Chess Chief (trainer Dallas Stewart), Silver Dust (Bret Calhoun), and Warrior's Charge (Brad Cox). All three horses completed their major Stephen Foster preparation Saturday at Churchill Downs.

Virginia-bred Chess Chief, owned by the Estate of James Coleman Jr., worked a half-mile in :48.20. The four-time winner is scheduled to be ridden by John Velazquez in the Stephen Foster.

Owned by Tom Durant, Silver Dust breezed a half-mile in :49 under regular rider Adam Beschizza. The striking gray son of Tapit continued to gallop out past the wire and completed five furlongs in 1:01.20.

Ten Strike Racing and Madaket Stables' Warrior's Charge worked a half-mile in :48.20 at 7:30 a.m. Florent Geroux is scheduled to ride.

Other runners expected to take part in the Stephen Foster are Empty Tomb (Mike Maker) and possibly Visitant (Bill Morey), according to assistant racing secretary and stakes coordinator Dan Bork.

The Stephen Foster is a “Win and You're In” race for the $6 million Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Classic on Nov. 6 at Del Mar. The winner receives an all entry fees paid berth to the season-ending championship event.

Here are the other probable runners for the six undercard races to the Stephen Foster, according to Bork:

$300,000 Grade 2 Fleur de Lis Stakes, run at 1 1/8 miles for fillies and mares 4-year-olds and up, Breeders' Cup “Win and You're In” Distaff Division: Dreamalildreamofu (Brad Cox); Envoutante (Kenny McPeek); Point of Honor (Shug McGaughey); Singita Dreams (Phil Bauer); Spice Is Nice (Todd Pletcher); and Vault (Brad Cox).

$300,000 Grade 2 Wise Dan Stakes, run at 1 1/16 miles on turf for 4-year-olds and up: Field Pass (Mike Maker); In Love (BRZ) (Paulo Lobo); Ride a Comet (Mark Casse); Set Piece (GB) (Brad Cox); and Somelikeithotbrown (Mike Maker). Possible: Spooky Channel (Jason Barkley)

$150,000 Grade 3 Bashford Manor Stakes, run at six furlongs for 2-year-olds: Double Thunder (Todd Pletcher); Glacial (Norm Casse); Kavod (Jimmy Chapman); Landsdowne (Dallas Stewart); Red Run (Steve Asmussen); Vodka N Water (Steve Asmussen); Whatstheconnection (John Ennis); and Whistlewhileyoumow (Jon Arnett).

$150,000 Debutante Stakes, run at six furlongs for 2-year-old fillies: Bandits Warrior (John Robb); Classiness (Jason Barkley); Mi Estrella (Genaro Garcia); Mollie Kate (John Ennis); Ontheonesandtwos (Norm Casse); She'sgotattitude (John Ennis); Sommer Velvet (Kevin Boniface); Take the Backroads (Tom Amoss); Tizplenty (Steve Asmussen); and Wicked Halo (Steve Asmussen).

$150,000 Tepin Stakes, run at one mile on turf for 3-year-old fillies: Adventuring (Brad Cox); Arm Candy (Steve Asmussen); Barista (Jimmy Baker); Bullseye Beauty (Andrew McKeever); Commanders Palace (Mark Casse); Fairchild (Mark Casse); Invincible Gal (GB) (Graham Motion); and New Boss (Bret Calhoun).

$150,000 War Chant Stakes, run at one mile on turf for 3-year-olds: Accredit (Pavel Matejka); Dyn O Mite (Keith Desormeaux); Helium (Mark Casse); and Royal Prince (Brad Cox).

Entries for Saturday's card take place Wednesday.

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Walsh Runners Maxfield, ‘Kid’ Prep for Graded Assignments

DARRS Inc.'s Extravagant Kid (Kiss the Kid), winner of the G1 Al Quoz Sprint Mar. 27, turned in his third work at Keeneland Saturday since his Dubai performance, covering five furlongs in 1:02.20 in company with stakes-placed winner Lontano (Street Boss) over a fast dirt track. Keeneland clockers caught him in fractions of :11.80, :24, ;36, :49.60 and 1:02.20.

“He worked great. He's doing good,” said trainer Brendan Walsh. “Looks like he came out of the race in Dubai good and got back in good shape.”

The 8-year-old is being considered for two races at the Royal meeting: the five-furlong G1 King's Stand S. June 15 and the six-furlong G1 Diamond Jubilee S. June 19.

“If it worked out good going to Dubai, why wouldn't it work out going to England?” said Walsh, who will be saddling his first runner at the Royal meeting. “He shows that he's good enough to take on those kind of horses.”

Walsh confirmed that Ryan Moore, who rode Extravagant Kid to his Dubai victory, will be back in board the gelding at Royal Ascot. Extravagant Kid is to accompany the contingent of horses trained by Wesley Ward on the flight from Indianapolis.

Another Saturday worker at Keeneland for Walsh was Godolphin's Maxfield (Street Sense), who was caught in :49.80 for a half-mile in his first work since winning the Apr. 30 GII Alysheba S. at Churchill Downs. The 4-year-old is scheduled to make his next start in the June 26 GII Stephen Foster S. at Churchill.

“Maxfield is doing great,” said Walsh, who has around 40 horses stabled at Keeneland. “He worked nice, and we're back on the go and on to the next spot.”

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Maxfield ‘Can Keep Improving,’ On Target For Stephen Foster

Godolphin's talented 4-year-old multiple graded stakes winner Maxfield is on target to make his next start in the $600,000 Stephen Foster (Grade 2) on June 26 at Churchill Downs.

“We brought him over to Keeneland after Derby Week at Churchill and we are targeting the Stephen Foster,” trainer Brendan Walsh said. “He'll make his way back to Churchill and we'll likely work him Saturday. I think the timing of this race works out well for us because it's the same timing following his race in the Santa Anita Handicap (G1). We know he loves it here at Churchill and I think with age and time he can keep improving.”

Maxfield rebounded from his third-place effort in the Santa Anita Handicap with a dominating 3 ¼-legnth score in the $400,000 Alysheba (G2) on the undercard of the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1).

The homebred son of Street Sense was an early Kentucky Derby (G1) favorite in 2020 but was forced to the sidelines with an injury to his right front leg. The colt spent nearly seven months away from the winner's circle but returned at the end of his 3-year-old campaign with a 2 ½-length win the $75,000 Tenacious Stakes at Fair Grounds.

Nominations for the Stephen Foster close Saturday, June 12. The 1 1/8-mile race is a “Win and You're In” event for the Nov. 6 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Del Mar. The winner will receive a berth to the season-ending championship event.

Next Saturday is Stephen Foster Preview Day at Churchill Downs with seven stakes races. Many of those races will be used as stepping stones to seven stakes on Stephen Foster Day. The fields for Stephen Foster Preview Day continue to take shape and likely entrants will become available in the coming days.

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