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Maxfield on Target for Foster

Godolphin homebred Maxfield (Street Sense), last seen romping in the GII Alysheba S. at Churchill Apr. 30, remains on track for that venue's GII Stephen Foster S. June 26. “We brought him over to Keeneland after [GI Kentucky] 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 [Mar. 6 GI] Santa Anita H. [where here finished third as the favorite]. We know he loves it here at Churchill and I think with age and time he can keep improving.”

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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.”

The post Maxfield Makes It Look Easy In Alysheba appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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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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Maxfield Looks to Bounce Back in Alysheba

Godolphin homebred Maxfield (Street Sense) will look to bounce back from his first-ever defeat as the Churchill Downs graded action kicks off Friday with the GII Alysheba S. The 2019 GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity hero was forced to miss that year's Breeders' Cup due to injury, and resurfaced a good-looking winner of the track-and-trip GIII Matt Winn S. some 11 months ago, only to be knocked off an elongated Triple Crown trail with a condylar fracture. He defeated Sonneman (Curlin) handily in both the Dec. 19 Tenacious S. and Feb. 13 GIII Mineshaft S., but settled for third as the favorite while testing 10 panels in the GI Santa Anita H. Mar. 6. Maxfield did pair up his career-best 99 Beyer Speed Figure in the Big 'Cap, and anything close to that will win this. Chess Chief (Into Mischief), who was third in the Mineshaft, annexed the GII New Orleans Classic S. last time Mar. 20. Fourth, beaten just 3/4 of a length, was 2019 GI Santa Anita Derby winner and 'TDN Rising Star' Roadster (Quality Road), who is back in the Bob Baffert barn after being switched to Mike Stidham for his last outing.

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