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One Last Go for Maxfield in Clark

Godolphin homebred Maxfield (Street Sense) will look to take one more trip to the Churchill Downs winner's circle in Friday's GI Clark H. before he joins Darley's stallion roster for next year. The Grade I winner boasts a perfect four-for-four record under the Twin Spires, having most recently dominated the GII Stephen Foster S. over this same distance in June. Second to expected Horse of the Year Knicks Go (Paynter) in Saratoga's Aug. 7 GI Whitney S. and again to streaking Art Collector (Bernardini) in the GI Woodward S. at Belmont Oct. 2, the dark bay has earned four-straight Beyer Speed Figures of 103 or better. Dr Post (Quality Road), a dual Grade III winner this year, finished one spot behind Maxfield in the Woodward.

Sophomore Midnight Bourbon (Tiznow) figures to seize the early lead from his rail draw and could prove tough to run down. This year's GIII Lecomte S. winner and GI Preakness S. runner-up clipped heels and lost his rider when crossed over on by Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow) in the GI Haskell Invitational S. in July, but bounced back the following month to run champion Essential Quality (Tapit) to a neck in the GI Runhappy Travers S. Aug. 28, good for a 107 Beyer Speed Figure. He paired up that figure when proving second best to Hot Rod Charlie in the GI Pennsylvania Derby Sept. 25.

Lightly raced 4-year-old 'TDN Rising Star' Happy Saver (Super Saver) aims for a late-season Grade I win for the second straight year. The Wertheimer homebred was four-for-four last term, capped by a victory in the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup in October over subsequent G1 Dubai World Cup hero Mystic Guide (Ghostzapper). He resurfaced in May to take a Belmont optional claimer, but was third behind Max Player (Honor Code) and Mystic Guide in the July 3 GII Suburban S. and second behind the former in the repositioned Jockey Club Gold Cup at Saratoga Sept. 4.

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‘So Effortless’: Maxfield Completes Final Preparations For Clark Swansong

Godolphin's multiple graded stakes-winning colt Maxfield completed his major preparation Friday for next week's Grade 1, $750,000 Clark presented by Norton Healthcare with a five-furlong move at Churchill Downs in 1:01.20.

Under the watchful eye of trainer Brendan Walsh, Maxfield completed his final work before the Nov. 26 Clark under assistant trainer and exercise rider Tom Molloy. The seven-time winner is set to retire from racing following the Clark and stand at Godolphin's Jonabell Farm in Lexington, Ky.

“We'll certainly all miss him around the barn,” Walsh said. “This horse just cruises over this racetrack. He simply loves it at Churchill. He's doing everything great leading into this race and we'll be ready to go come Friday.”

Molloy, who regularly gallops and works some of Walsh's top horses, is set to begin his own training career following the Clark. The Ireland-native and former jockey has worked as an assistant trainer since 2015 and is poised to make his first start at Turfway Park in December.

“I've been on Maxfield at various racetracks around the country and I've never seen a horse that likes it at Churchill as much as he does,” Molloy said. “He's just so effortless when he hits the ground here.”

Maxfield holds a perfect record from four starts at Churchill Downs. The Street Sense colt won the $600,000 Stephen Foster (G2) in June and the $400,000 Alysheba (G2) on the undercard of the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1).

Entries for Friday's 1 1/8-mile Clark will be taken Sunday. The 147th renewal of the race is expected to include a talented field of colts and geldings such as Winchell Thoroughbreds' Grade 3 winner and multiple Grade 1 placed colt Midnight Bourbon. The Steve Asmussen runner has been training consistently at Churchill Downs following his eventful runner-up effort to Hot Rod Charlie in the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby (G1) where he was forced very wide into the final turn.

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Essential Quality to Stand for $75,000

Essential Quality (Tapit–Delightful Quality, by Elusive Quality), last year's champion 2-year-old and winner of this year's GI Belmont S. and GI Runhappy Travers S., will begin his stud career next year at a fee of $75,000, Darley in America announced Sunday. Essential Quality concluded his racing career with a third-place effort in Saturday's GI Longines Breeders' Cup Classic.

“His body of work is just tremendous: an Eclipse champion at two, a Classic winner at three, a son of Tapit with a fantastic female family,” said Darley Sales Manager Darren Fox. “He's already generated quite a lot of interest and we couldn't be more excited about him retiring to Jonabell Farm.”

Essential Quality won eight of 10 starts, including last year's GI TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile and GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity, as well as this year's GII Jim Dandy S. and GII Toyota Blue Grass S. He retires with earnings of $4,755,144.

Also retiring to Jonabell in 2022 is Grade I winner Maxfield (Street Sense–Velvety, by Bernardini), who will stand for $40,000. The 4-year-old is expected to make his final career start in the Nov. 26 GI Clark H. at Churchill Downs.

Winner of the 2019 GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity, Maxfield has won this year's GII Alysheba S. and GII Stephen Foster S. and is coming off runner-up efforts in the GI Whitney S. and GI Woodward S.

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Darley Sets 2022 Stud Fees For Essential Quality, Maxfield

Champion two-year-old and Grade 1 Belmont Stakes winner Essential Quality will stand the 2022 season at a fee of $75,000 while G1 Breeders' Futurity winner Maxfield's fee will be set at $40,000.

Following a third in his final career start, the G1 Breeders' Cup Classic, Darley Sales Manager Darren Fox said of the Belmont and Travers Stakes winner, “His body of work is just tremendous: an Eclipse Champion at two, a Classic winner at three, a son of Tapit with a fantastic female family. He's already generated quite a lot of interest and we couldn't be more excited about him retiring to Jonabell Farm.”

Maxfield, a son of Darley stallion Street Sense, will make his final appearance on the track in the G1 Clark at Churchill Downs on November 26th, and will then head to Jonabell to begin his next career.

For more information please call our nominations team on (859) 255-8537.

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