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Maxfield ‘Ready To Take That Next Step’ In Santa Anita Handicap

Maxfield, an undefeated son of 2007 Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense, carries top weight of 124 pounds in Saturday's Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap presented by San Manuel Casino, Santa Anita's marquee event for older horses which will be run for the 84th time at The Great Race Place.

Winner of all five of his career races by daylight margins, coming from out of the clouds in his first three, Maxfield arrived at Santa Anita Wednesday from the Fair Grounds in New Orleans, where he had his final work Saturday for the mile and a quarter classic, going a half mile in 49.20.

“We've just been galloping and jogging him in the mornings since he arrived,” said his 47-year-old trainer, Irishman Brendan Walsh, who will be on hand for the race. The four-year-old colt is bedded down with trainer Simon Callaghan.

Maxfield won his debut race at Churchill Downs Sept. 14, 2019, coming from 10th at odds of 10-1 to score by three-parts of a length at a flat mile, then came back in his next start to capture the Grade 1 Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland at 6-1 by 5 ½ lengths, again in Silky Sullivan fashion.

He was successful yet again using those dramatic tactics in his three-year-old debut at Churchill Downs last May 23, closing from eighth, ridden in all three races by Jose Ortiz Jr.

In his last two races, Maxfield, owned and bred by global racing and breeding giant Godolphin, has been much closer to the pace. He won a restricted stakes at the Fair Grounds by 2 ½ lengths on Dec. 19, 2020, and the Grade 3 Mineshaft in his four-year-old debut by 3 ¾ lengths on Feb. 13, each time under Florent Geroux, who will be aboard again in the Big 'Cap. Maxfield's last four races have all been at 1 1/16 miles.

It may be worth noting that Maxfield faced smaller fields in his last two starts than he did in his first three, which could have accounted to his having been in closer attendance to the lead.

“He's just a stronger horse now,” Walsh said. “I think as a two-year-old he was a bit immature, maybe not that strong, and that's why he wasn't getting away from the gate super-fast, but that didn't seem to have a negative affect upon him. That said, his last three starts he's been a lot closer to the pace.”

Walsh, in his third year training for Godolphin, which owns and bred current undefeated Kentucky Derby favorite and Eclipse champion Essential Quality, concurred when asked if the mile and a quarter of the Big 'Cap seems ideal for Maxfield.

“Absolutely,” he said. “He's bred to get the mile and a quarter and his running style suits it, too. This will be a good test for him, having to travel out here and running on a different track, but we feel he's ready to take that next step.”

The Big 'Cap presented by San Manuel Casino, race 10 of 11 with a 12 noon first post time: Independence Hall, Flavien Prat, 4-1; Maxfield, Florent Geroux, 8-5; Kiss Today Goodbye, Mike Smith, 8-1; Coastal Defense, John Velazquez, 15-1; Express Train, Juan Hernandez, 3-1; Idol, Joel Rosario, 6-1; Tizamagician, Drayden Van Dyke, 12-1; and King Guillermo, Abel Cedillo, 12-1.

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Trainer Gordon Elliott Suspended Six Months For Bringing ‘Sport Into Disrepute’

The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB) released the result of its hearing into the actions of leading jumps trainer Gordon Elliott on Friday. The IRHB decided to suspend Elliott for 12 months, of which the second six months are suspended, according to the racing authority's website.

The following was published on the IHRB website after the results of the hearing were made public:

“Elliott was found in breach of Rule 272(i) which relates to the proper conduct and good reputation of horse racing following the circulation of a picture showing Mr. Elliott sitting on a dead horse.

“Ireland is recognized internationally as being a world leader in the racing industry. This success is based on the highest professional standards being followed by all participants. Where rules are breached they will be dealt with rigorously, fully, and impartially by the IHRB.

“This case was heard by the Referrals Committee today, chaired by Mr. Justice Raymond Groarke, accompanied by The Hon. Mrs. Justice Siobhan Keegan and Mr. Nick Wachman.

“Speaking about the decision of the Referrals Committee, Denis Egan, CEO of the IHRB said:

“'Where breaches of rules occur and where participants in racing act in a manner that brings the sport into disrepute, there are no winners, and in fact, the loss is to Irish racing with damage to the reputation of the sport. Having acted with thoroughness and having followed due process at all times, the IHRB team are satisfied that the case has been dealt with fairly and appropriately.

“'Our team who prepared the case worked tirelessly since the issue emerged just a few days ago and ensured their investigation, presented today and with the support of our legal team, was thorough, fair to the parties involved, and above all, focused on ensuring that the integrity and good reputation of the sport is upheld.'

“The IHRB will carry out unannounced stableyard inspections on more than 100 days this year in addition to sampling over 5,000 horses, regulating over 380 race meetings, approximately 100 Point-to-Point fixtures and will pursue with impartiality any rule breaches that we uncover.

“Mr. Egan added: “Ireland and its racehorse trainers, riders, breeders and workers are held in high regard globally providing some of the very best horses and the very best racing talent.

“'We recognize the heartfelt upset that this matter has caused to people inside and outside of racing, none more so than to the staff employed by Mr. Elliott. We also see at first hand both on the racecourse and as part of our stable inspection program that horses receive unrivalled care, attention, and affection. Indeed, as part of the investigation into this very case, an unannounced stable inspection of Mr. Elliott's yard this week led to no concerns about the welfare of the horses in his care, as has been the case during any other inspection we carried out at his premises each year. In our opinion the incident covered in today's hearing is not reflective of Irish racing.'”

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Weekend Lineup: Three Derby Preps, Big ‘Cap

A trio of prep races for the Kentucky Derby are slated for this weekend with the Grade 3 Gotham Stakes, Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby, and Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes all offering Derby qualifying points to the top four finishers on a 50-20-10-5 basis. One of racing's most prestigious races for older horses, the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap, is also scheduled for March 6.

America's Day at the Races, produced by the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) in partnership with FOX Sports, will air coverage both Saturday and Sunday showcasing live racing action from Aqueduct Racetrack, Oaklawn Park, Tampa Bay Downs, Santa Anita Park and Fair Grounds.

Presented by America's Best Racing and Claiborne Farm, America's Day at the Races will broadcast Saturday from 5-6 p.m. ET on FS2, while Sunday will feature coverage on FS2 from 1:30-6:30 p.m.

TVG will have live coverage of the Kentucky Derby prep races as well as the $400,000 Santa Anita Handicap. In addition to racing from Santa Anita, Tampa Bay Downs and Gulfstream Park, TVG will be featuring racing from Fair Grounds, Oaklawn and more. Fans can tune in on TVG, TVG2 and the Watch TVG app which is available on Amazon Fire, Roku and connected Apple TV devices.

Saturday, March 6

2:18 p.m.—$100,000 Grade 3 Challenger Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs on TVG

The Bill Mott-trained Modernist seeks his first victory in more than a year when he breaks from the outside post in a field of five for the Challenger Stakes going 1 1/16-miles. Modernist won the Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes last February but has not started since finishing fifth in the Grade 3 Peter Pan Stakes last July 16.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/TAM030621USA5-EQB.html

4:02 p.m.—$200,000 Grade 3 Tom Fool Handicap at Aqueduct on TVG

Gold Square's Wendell Fong will look to make the grade in Saturday's Tom Fool Handicap, a six-furlong sprint for older horses. Wendell Fong provided trainer Natalia Lynch – previously an assistant and exercise rider for Jeremiah Englehart – her first career win last out with a neck score in the six-furlong Fire Plug on January 16 at Laurel Park. Lynch helped prepare the 5-year-old son of Flat Out, previously trained by Englehart, for a winning career debut in December 2018 at Laurel. She was also along for the journey with Wendell Fong through a win in the 2019 Gold Fever at Belmont in a campaign that ended with a prominent fifth in the Grade 1 Woody Stephens at Belmont and a tenth in the Grade 2 Amsterdam at Saratoga.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/AQU030621USA7-EQB.html

4:25 p.m.—$225,000 Grade 2 Hillsborough Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs on TVG

On Saturday, Magic Attitude (GB) will try to launch an even better 4-year-old campaign in the Grade 2, $225,000 Hillsborough Stakes at 1 1/8-miles on the Oldsmar turf course. After trailing early, Magic Attitude took off in the stretch, sweeping to victory against her four rivals to win the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks Invitational last September. She followed that up with a strong third-place performance in the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes, also for 3-year-old fillies, on October 10 at Keeneland.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/TAM030621USA9-EQB.html

4:55 p.m.—$200,000 Grade 3 Florida Oaks at Tampa Bay Downs on TVG

Trainer Arnaud Delacour, who will saddle Magic Attitude in the Hillsborough, is seeking his first triumph in the Florida Oaks when he sends out Lael Stables homebred Be Sneaky. Yet to race on grass, Be Sneaky is 1-for-3, with a second-place finish at Tampa Bay Downs in the Suncoast Stakes on February 6 in her most recent start. The daughter of Into Mischief broke her maiden at Laurel Park last October.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/TAM030621USA10-EQB.html

5:07 p.m.—$300,000 Grade 3 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct on FS2 and TVG

Owner Klaravich Stables and trainer Chad Brown already campaigned a winner in a Kentucky Derby qualifier in New York when Risk Taking captured the Grade 3 Withers last month. On Saturday, they will look to put another contender in the running for the first Saturday in May with stakes-winner Highly Motivated in the Gotham. Highly Motivated graduated at second asking going 6 ½ furlongs over the Belmont Park main track on September 27, where he defeated eventual two-time winner Known Agenda, who finished third in the Grade 2 Remsen in December. Last out, Highly Motivated displayed a winning effort in the Nyquist on November 6 traveling 6 1/2-furlongs at Keeneland.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/AQU030621USA9-EQB.html

5:25 p.m.—$400,000 Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby at Tampa Bay Downs on FS2 and TVG

Saturday's Tampa Bay Derby will bring together 12 3-year-olds, most with much to prove if they are to continue to advance toward a date with destiny in the Kentucky Derby. Headlining the field will be Candy Man Rocket, who won the Grade 3 Sam F. Davis Stakes on February 6. Joining Candy Man Rocket and Super Strong as a graded-stakes winner in the race is trainer Dale Romans's Sittin On Go, who won the Grade 3 Iroquois Stakes last September 5 at Churchill Downs, then was a non-threatening ninth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile on November 6 at Keeneland.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/TAM030621USA11-EQB.html

5:45 p.m.—$300,000 Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita Park on FS2 and TVG

Bob Baffert's lightly raced Life Is Good heads an outstanding field of seven sophomores in Saturday's San Felipe Stakes. A key prep for the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 3, the San Felipe will be contested for the 83rd time, with Baffert bidding to win it for a record eighth time. Owned by CHC, Inc. and WinStar Farm, Life Is Good was making his second start in the Grade 3 Sham Stakes and was off as the 1-5 favorite. Although he opened up a four length advantage at the top of the lane, he narrowly held sway by three quarters of a length over stablemate Medina Spirit, who helps provide Baffert with a solid one-two punch on Saturday.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SA030621USA6-EQB.html

6:10 p.m.—$300,000 Grade 3 Honeybee Stakes at Oaklawn Park on TVG

Juddmonte Farms' two-time winner Sun Path was installed as the 5-2 morning line favorite in the field of eight 3-year-old fillies signed on to compete in the 1 1/16-miles Honeybee, which offers 85 points (50-20-10-5, respectively) to the top four finishers toward the Kentucky Oaks. Trained by two-time Kentucky Oaks-winning conditioner Brad Cox, Sun Path was an emphatic 12-length winner of a Dec. 18 allowance event at Fair Grounds. The Munnings filly attempted stakes company in the $150,000 Silverbulletday but settled for a fourth-place finish after a wide trip throughout the race.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/OP030621USA9-EQB.html

6:52 p.m.—$200,000 Grade 2 San Carlos Stakes at Santa Anita Park on TVG

Jay Em Ess Stable's graded stakes winning Extra Hope will cut back in distance off of five consecutive routes as he heads a field of nine older horses going seven furlongs in Saturday's San Carlos Stakes. Recent seven furlong allowance winner Exaulted steps into stakes company for the first time, 2019 Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Storm the Court tries a new game, recent California-bred stakes winner Brickyard Ride, lightly raced Tigre Di Slugo and reformed claimer Loud Mouth all rate good chances in a race devoid of a dominant favorite.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SA030621USA8-EQB.html

7:26 p.m.—$400,000 Grade 1 Frank E. Kilroe Mile at Santa Anita Park on TVG

Trainer Michael McCarthy's Smooth Like Strait heads a deep and competitive field of 10 older horses in Saturday's Frank E. Kilroe Mile. A winner of the opening day Mathis Brothers Mile on December 26, Cannon Thoroughbreds' homebred Smooth Like Strait is a head away from three consecutive graded stakes wins and merits top billing in a close call over recent lights-out Grade 3 winner Hit the Road. With a strong local contingent in place, the Kilroe has also attracted five quality eastern shippers, headed by Chad Brown's Flavius, Todd Pletcher's Social Paranoia and Mark Casse's Ride a Comet.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SA030621USA9-EQB.html

8 p.m.—$400,000 Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap at Santa Anita Park on TVG

Goldolphin's unbeaten homebred Maxfield heads ups Saturday's Santa Anita Handicap, which has attracted a field of eight older horses. Trained by Brendan Walsh, Maxfield, a 4-year-old colt by Street Sense, rallied from far back to win the Grade 3 Mineshaft Stakes by 3 ¼ lengths at Fair Grounds under Florent Geroux, who will be back aboard Saturday. A Grade 1 winner in his second start at age two in October 2019, Maxfield has three graded victories to his credit.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SA030621USA10-EQB.html

Sunday, March 7

5 p.m.—$100,000 Grade 3 Santa Ysabel Stakes at Santa Anita Park on FS2 and TVG

Bob Baffert's well accomplished Kalypso heads a field of five sophomore fillies in Sunday's Santa Ysabel Stakes, which offers 50 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points to the winner. Baffert will also be represented by Baoma Corporation's Beautiful Gift as well as Pegram, Watson and Weitman's Heels Up in a race that Baffert has won a record five times. Kalyspo, a daughter of Brody's Cause, broke her maiden going six furlongs four starts back in the ungraded Anoakia Stakes on October 18 and then showed the way prior to running second, beaten 1 ½ lengths in the Grade 1 Starlet Stakes at Los Alamitos December 5.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SA030721USA4-EQB.html

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Penn National’s Leading Rider Edwin Gonzalez Shifts Tack To Gulfstream

Edwin Gonzalez, the leading rider at Penn National the last two years with more than 400 victories and a 2020 winning percentage of 33 percent, is moving his tack to Gulfstream Park.

Gonzalez, who rode five winners Wednesday evening at Penn National and six winners there Feb. 17, will ride in Pennsylvania through March 19 before heading to Florida. He is expected to ride in Tampa on Florida Cup Day March 28 before riding at Gulfstream.

Gonzalez, who finished second in wins during the 2017 Tampa Bay Downs meet and won six races there on March 10 of that year, has won more than 1,430 races since coming to the U.S. from his native Puerto Rico in 2013. He was ranked 14th in wins in North America last year and 11th in wins in 2019.

Kevin Meyocks, agent for Luca Panici, will represent Gonzalez.

“We've been north here the last two years and it's been good, but we only race two days a week and I'd like to ride at a better track with some better horses,” said Gonzalez, who is moving along with his wife and three children. “There's nice weather down here. We can take the kids out to the park. I talked to Kevin, he's a good agent, and when opportunity comes, you have to take advantage of it.”

Gonzalez, a multiple graded-stakes winner in Puerto Rico, guided Ghost Hunter for his first graded-stakes success in the 2017 Arlington Handicap (G3).

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